Lisbon, March 14, 2025 (Lusa) - Parliament approved a final text on Friday relating to bills from the PAN, PSD, Livre and PS establishing a moratorium on deep sea mining until 2050, with the Chega and Liberal Initiative voting against.

The text, which had no abstentions, had already been approved on Wednesday in the Environment and Energy Committee after being discussed in the specialised section in February following the approval of the PSD, PS, Livre and PAN bills. The IL and Chega parties had already voted against these proposals.

The introduction of a moratorium is in line with calls from various environmental organisations, due to the risks that mining with heavy machinery poses to ecosystems and fisheries.

The PAN member of parliament said on Wednesday that the proposal coming out of the Environment Committee "demonstrates the relevance of this issue and the need to allow Portugal to fulfil its goal of preventing deep sea mining by 2050".

Inês Sousa Real explained that this mining practice "aims to extract minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel or manganese from the seabed with heavy machinery at great depth", something that would lead to the destruction of habitats, the extinction of species and would "jeopardise the benefits of ecosystems for humanity, also harming local populations".

He emphasised that "Portugal is the country with the greatest marine biodiversity in Europe and that is why it is urgent to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources".

The approval comes after the fall of Luís Montenegro's government.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced on Wednesday the dissolution of parliament and the calling of early elections for 18 May.

PAL/ADB // ADB.

Lusa