Boticas, Portugal, May 7, 2026 (Lusa) - The mayor of Boticas, in Portugal's northern Vila Real district, has expressed concern regarding a second administrative easement granted in connection with the local lithium mine, which imposes restrictions on the use of private land and directly affects landowners.
“This is a decision that concerns us,” Guilherme Pires told Lusa on Wednesday, in response to the government's authorisation of the administrative easement, which grants the company Savannah Resources access to private and communal lands for work related to the Barroso lithium mine project.
An order published on Wednesday in the official government gazette, signed by the assistant Secretary of State for Energy, Jean Paulo Gil Barroca, said that the government had declared the administrative easement to be of public utility, for a period of one year from the date of administrative possession, pursuant to paragraph 5, covering 24 plots, encompassing an area of approximately 228 hectares of private and communal lands.
"We are talking about a measure that directly affects landowners, farmers and families in Covas do Barroso [in the Boticas district], imposing restrictions on the use of private land. And for that reason, it cannot be treated as a mere administrative procedure," Guilherme Pires said.
He argued that Covas do Barroso should not be viewed simply as a district where decisions made from a distance are executed, saying that the local population must be respected, heard, and properly protected.
According to the order published in the official government gazette, the concessionaire will pay compensation due to property owners for the establishment of the administrative easement.
Once the approved works are completed or the deadline expires, the company must remove any installations or structures, ensure proper waste treatment, and carry out landscape recovery in the occupied area, in line with the approved work programme and mining plan.
“What we are demanding is simple and legitimate. Firstly, fair, prompt and adequate compensation for all landowners affected by the administrative easement and, secondly, full transparency regarding the work to be carried out: where, when and what the impacts will be,” he said.
Furthermore, he demanded “strict compliance with all environmental obligations, ensuring that the land is properly restored”, describing it as "fundamental".
“If this project goes ahead, it must bring tangible benefits to Covas do Barroso. We will not accept the local council bearing the impacts without a clear return for its inhabitants,” he added.
The environment ministry had previously authorised a first easement in December 2024, which led landowners to file an injunction, resulting in a 15-day suspension of prospecting work in February 2025.
Savannah Resources wants to mine lithium in the Covas do Barroso area, but the project continues to face strong opposition from local residents, mayors, and environmentalists.
The mining project was approved by the Portuguese Environment Agency, which issued a conditional favourable Environmental Impact Statement in 2023.
PLI/MYAL // AYLS
Lusa
