The population of the Algarve and Alentejo areas potentially affected by oil exploration, "will once again have social peace," after Galp-ENI abandoned its drilling project off Aljezur.
In a statement on October 30th, the Association of Terras do Infante (the Lagos, Aljezur and Vila do Bispo Councils) considered the abandonment of oil exploration by the consortium, "a sensible decision."
"The Southwest Alentejo, the Costa Vicentina and all the Algarve, again have social peace and tranquility after being so badly shaken by this threat.”
The Association, led by the former mayor of Aljezur, the fiercely anti-oil, José Amarelinho, said that this government and future governments need to learn from this environmental campaign
For the three mayors, "the will of the State can not be imposed on the will of a region, ignoring legal, environmental and scientific grounds, but, above all, ignoring the legitimate will of its population."
Galp’s boss announced on Monday that the company had decided to abandon the oil drilling project in the Alentejo Basin, as the existing conditions made it “objectively impossible” to continue exploration activities.
In August, the Administrative and Fiscal Tribunal of Loulé imposed a suspension of any drilling activity, thwarting the consortium’s plans to begin drilling between September and October.
Galp-ENI, despite legal back-up from a cluster of government departments, decided that another court case, this one involving ASMAA, was just delaying things and, with no immediate prospect of winning the case, scrapped the plan to drill this autumn.
The notice from Terras do Infante praises those whose efforts have led us thus far:
"Congratulations to all those who worked hard and never gave up on this fight! A special word of thanks to all platforms, associations, informal groups, civil society, businessmen, mayors, among many others who have always believed that such an outcome would be possible. TO ALL, without exception, the Association of Municipalities Terras do Infante pays tribute and applauds this victory. The victory of the struggle by citizenship using social pressure - the victory of the Algarve, but also of Portugal!"
