The Turkish mining company Eczacibasi ESAN has set up an office in Aljustrel from which to run its mining operations in the Alentejo.
The company has to invest €7.6 million over three years as part of a contract signed in February with local mining company Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro which will hold 15% of the joint venture.
Eczacibasi ESAN is to work on finding "copper deposits, zinc or lead and other associated minerals" in three areas of the Iberian Pyrite Belt in the Alentejo.
Aljustrel council is delighted as the company is taking space in its Center for Micro Enterprises with council president, Nelson Brito, commenting that he is proud that the mining company is setting up the headquarters of Eczacibasi ESAN in Portugal, which could create "between 15 and 20 jobs."
According to the pro-mining mayor, the exploration and research studies being carried out in Aljustrel are important because if there are minerals out there, then this means "more jobs and wealth distribution in the county."
The exploration work will take place at Monte das Mesas (Aljustrel) São Pedro das Cabeças (Castro Verde) and Alcácer, in Alcácer do Sal.
The two companies also signed a contract covering Monte das Mesas and Eczacibasi already has started work there.
No information has yet been received from local or national ecological organisations.
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For history of Aljustrel mining, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aljustrel_mine
Assessment of soil contamination - Aljustrel mines
http://onlinebiblio.lneg.pt/multimedia/associa/base%20mono/33759.pdf
