Court Order Halts Savannah's Lithium Exploration in Boticas: What It Means for Local Communities

Court Order Suspends Mining Activities
A British mining company, Savannah Resources, faces a court order that has temporarily halted its lithium exploration activities in the Boticas region. This decision was made by property owners who filed a precautionary measure against the Ministry of Environment, which had previously authorized the mining operations.

Legal Proceedings
The precautionary measure was submitted to the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Mirandela. According to the association Unidos em Defesa de Covas de Barroso (UDCB), this order suspends all work in the affected area until a future court decision is made. The UDCB stated that this legal action is in accordance with Article 128 of the Code of Administrative Court Procedures (CPTA).

Savannah Resources Responds
In a statement, Savannah Resources confirmed that they were aware of the court order and have paused their operations for safety maneuvers. They expressed their intent to handle the situation calmly and hoped to resume their work soon.

Government Authorization Contested
The Secretary of State for Energy, Maria João Pereira, had previously authorized an administrative servitude allowing Savannah to access private land for lithium exploration for a year. This decision has faced backlash from local landowners and municipal leaders.

Community Action
Nelson Gomes, president of the UDCB, noted that three property owners initiated the court action, but the suspension affects all properties impacted by the government’s decision. He emphasized that the Ministry of Environment has been notified and is legally bound to comply with the court ruling.

Starting Thursday, residents from Covas do Barroso and Romainho will be on-site to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, stating, “The time for servitude is over.”

Future of Lithium Project
Following the announcement of the administrative servitude, Savannah Resources indicated plans to resume fieldwork and necessary drilling for the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), aiming to conclude these phases by 2025 and commence production by 2027. The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) had previously granted a conditional favorable environmental impact declaration for the Barroso lithium mine in May 2023.