Boticas, Portugal, June 16, 2025 (Lusa) - Savannah Resources’ advisory committee features Luís Mira Amaral, Luís Amado, Carlos Caxaria and Astrid Karamira, and aims to support the company in developing the Barroso lithium mine in Boticas, the company announced on Monday.
Luís Mira Amaral and Luís Amado are former ministers, Carlos Caxaria was president of the Mining Development Company (EDM) and Astrid Karamira is a specialist in mineral supply chains and procurement.
"We believe that diversity of backgrounds enriches strategic debate and helps to anticipate the various challenges and opportunities facing our project and all the partners involved in it," said Emanuel Proença, Savannah’s chief executive officer (CEO), in a statement today.
The open-pit lithium mine proposed for the municipality of Boticas, in the north of the district of Vila Real, obtained a conditional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2023, and the company plans to start production in 2027.
Savannah explained that the advisory committee aims to support the company in the development of the Barroso lithium project “by contributing with analysis, recommendations and informed guidance, to ensure the success and sustainability of the project”.
The committee may adjust its composition, now with four members, and it will meet periodically with the company’s leadership.
Luís Amado was Portugal’s minister for National Defence and minister of State and Foreign Affairs, as well as secretary of State for Internal Affairs and secretary of State for Cooperation, and a member of parliament, having worked at Banif and Cabo Verde’s Banco de Negócios and EDP.
He currently holds non-executive and advisory positions in several companies and institutions, is a member of the Global Advisory Board of Sonae, and is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fundação Oriente, as well as a trustee of the Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos.
Luís Mira Amaral was Minister of Labour and Social Security and Minister of Industry and Energy, a business manager in the industrial, energy and technology sectors, a university professor and a member of the orders of engineers and economists.
He is currently a consultant at FNWAY Consulting, focusing on research, technological development, and innovation projects for companies and business associations. He teaches Economics for Engineers and Management for Engineers at the Instituto Superior Técnico.
Carlos Caxaria was vice-president of the Geological and Mining Institute, deputy director of the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) and chaired EDM, a public company dedicated to the mining sector.
Astrid Karamira is a specialist in responsible mineral supply chains and responsible sourcing, focusing on the lithium sector (markets, value chain and opportunities for the sector).
In March, the European Commission recognised the lithium mine in Barroso as a strategic project under the Critical Raw Materials Regulation.
Last week, the association Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso (UDCB), MiningWatch Portugal, and ClientEarth contested the support given by the European Commission, complained to this European body and called for a reassessment of its decision, considering that it had only “partially assessed” the environmental and social risks.
The company responded by emphasising that it is proud of the European Commission’s recognition of the Barroso mine and that opponents of the project continue to “spread misinformation” and “recycle arguments” that the company has already addressed.
Savannah plans to produce enough lithium “to supply at least half a million vehicle batteries per year, equivalent to more than three times the total number of vehicles purchased annually in Portugal.”
PLI/ADB // ADB.
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