The president of the Algarve mayors’ group, AMAL, said that the government’s plan to terminate the contracts for the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the region "was a good decision" which should have been taken a long time ago.
"Fortunately, the government is to rescind the contracts and we consider that it is a good decision for the economy, for the environment and for tourism which is the fundamental business sector of the region and which contributes a huge percentage to the national accounts," said AMAL’s president.
The delay in cancelling the concession contracts already has damaged the region’s image, says Botelho, "We think that the decision should have been taken a long time ago, but in my opinion, the Government wanted to be seen as reasonable and to get the opinion of the Attorney General's Office."
"We always said the contracts were illegal, and AMAL has filed two precautionary measures to stop the process," said the president of AMAL who rejoiced that today’s decision to stop oil and gas exploration in the Algarve, "it is good for the region, for the country and for the Algarve’s mayors who have been as one on this issue."
"What we want is the Algarve with clean energy and without oil exploration as we consider that it does not make any sense," concluded Botelho who also in mayor of Tavira.
Aljezur mayor, José Amarelinho, said that the termination of the oil contracts is a partial victory as other contracts are still in force.
"It is a partial victory, since there is still a problem of exploration just 50 kilometres from the Aljezur coast," said Amarelinho, adding that he believes that the Government will also end the Galp-ENI contract for drilling off the west coast.
Amarelinho added that AMAL will continue with its court action against the government to ensure that not one hole is drilled by the Galp-ENI consortium.
This Algarve mayor reckons the government has been smart by looking at the contracts in a "surgical way" and resorting to administrative and contractual issues to justify their termination.
Vítor Aleixo, the mayor of Loulé, also expressed satisfaction with the termination of the contracts, and said this had been a "joint victory" with all of those involved in the fight against oil exploration in the Algarve.
Although Loulé was not directly affected by the oil contracts, the mayor had stuck his neck out by proposing to hold an Algarve referendum on the subject.
"This outcome is proof that an active citizenship is inseparable from a good democracy," said Aleixo, who considers that the government's action in finding ways to stop the drilling was largely due to the various citizens' movements which got the message across that an oil business affecting the Algarve would have "disastrous consequences."
João Martins, of the Algarve Free from Oil Movement (MALP), said the mobilisation of people in the region had been crucial in stopping the process, congratulation those who has been involved in the fight, “which was a struggle for the future of new generations and for the sustainability of the region."
Ana Correia, from Tavira in Transition, said that despite the joy with which the Government's decision has been received, it remains necessary to continue to fight for the termination of ENI-GALP's contracts in the sea off Aljezur and for an end to the remaining contracts elsewhere in the country.
The earliest and arguably the most effective campaigner of all the groups, Laurinda Seabra from ASMAA, said that the decision is "a great Christmas present for the Algarve.”
"Portugal is waking up, reacting and seeing that the solution for the future lies in alternative energies," said Seabra, adding that ASMAA will continue to fight against oil and gas exploration throughout Portugal.
The Climáximo movement welcomed the Government's termination of the Portfuel and Repsol-Partex contracts in the Algarve, but said that "we must move forward immediately with the cancellation of the rest."
In a statement, the climate justice movement welcomed the cancellations in the Algarve, but reminded the public that "there are nine more contracts for oil and gas exploration, on land and at sea, off the Portuguese coast from Oporto to Sagres, and onshore at Batalha and Pombal."
According to the movement, it is "necessary to cancel all contracts and move immediately towards the end of the use of fossil fuels in the country, mirroring what is happening in several other places on the planet."
The movement argued that the government's decision is of course positive, but said that this will not be acceptable as a bargaining chip for carrying on with other oil and gas exploration concessions.
"We are under no doubt as to the power of the companies that have these catastrophic concessions, but it is the duty of any government to defend the population that has elected it. It is therefore necessary to cancel the remaining contracts off the Alentejo coast and elsewhere.”
