Savannah seeks compulsory land purchases at Portuguese lithium mine
LISBON - Savannah Resources is seeking Portuguese government approval for the compulsory purchase of land around its Barroso lithium mining project, in a test of Europe's commitment to boost its minerals industry despite local opposition.
The London-listed company said on Tuesday it would submit the request for a so-called Declaration of Public Utility to the government. If approved, it would allow the company to compulsorily buy land around the project.
"In the meantime, all efforts to obtain friendly agreements will continue," it said, adding that values to be paid for the land plots have been calculated by independent surveyors certified by the Portuguese courts.
The company has said Barroso's deposit of spodumene - an important source of lithium - is the biggest in Europe and has estimated reserves of 28 million metric tons of high-grade lithium.
But the project has put the European Union's ambition to reduce dependence on countries such as China for strategic raw materials to the test as it faces opposition from local residents and environmentalists.
Portuguese law allows for compulsory acquisitions for infrastructure and energy projects, offering a solution in situations such as plots with inheritance issues or undefined ownership.
Savannah has purchased more than 100 plots so far under a voluntary programme, on average at about twice the values calculated for the compulsory purchases, of 1 euro per square metre.
Savannah, which wants to build four open pit mines in the northern Barroso region to extract enough lithium each year for about half a million batteries for electric vehicles, said last month it would accelerate the project to ensure first commercial output in 2027.
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