People carrying a banner saying “No to the mine. Yes to life” take part in a anti-lithium protest in Covas do Barroso, Portugal, photo: Catarina Demony

8 comments

1. With 60,000 tonnes of known reserves, Portugal is already Europe’s biggest producer of lithium, traditionally mined for ceramics. Barroso, whose lush mountain pastures are a Food and Agriculture Organization heritage site, contains one of its richest deposits.
   London-based Savannah Resources (SAVS.L) wants to build four open-pit mines there, producing enough lithium each year for around half a million EV batteries.

   Portugal’s lithium reserves have “an important role to play” in meeting the EU’s target, the environment ministry said, adding that new mines would bring money and jobs for local communities. In a statement, it also pledged “the highest social and environmental standards”.
   But Barroso farmer Nelson Gomes, 47, part of the UDCB movement campaigning against mining expansion, is sceptical.
   “They (governments) are trying to clean up cities by polluting villages,” he said.

2. I’ve always been open~~ed~~ to preserving Mother Nature, new technologies, life improvements. However I do have couple of questions:

   Is there a substitute?

   Will people stop buying devices powered by Li-Ion batteries, to include electric vehicles?

   Edit: grammar

3. Same ppl would probably protest to ban IC cars and use EV cars only

4. Better to extract the lithium in Congo and import to the EU. Then drive EV cars and feel good about ourselves

   Far from view, far from the heart

5. We have the same struggle in Serbia. I send my support and hope we prevail!

6. China is going to continue to dominate the ev sector

7. The funny part is how all of them have lithium in their pockets and are happy to buy more of it.

8. Support from Serbia! We are also threatened with lithium mines, so in this sense we share the same struggle.