The Government has guaranteed that a new set of regulations will force mining companies to give a part of their royalties from destructive mining practices to be used in projects that benefit local populations.
"The geological resources belong to all the Portuguese, therefore the royalties should go to the central administration. But we recognise that local populations are directly affected," said Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, João Galamba.
The deputy secretary also added that the same proposed law will define that "those in lithium should contribute to a fund" that will be used for increasing the country’s recycling potential.
Mr. Galamba was speaking at the Committee on the Environment, Energy and Spatial Planning, in Parliament, at a hearing requested by several parliamentary groups.
The lithium exploration concession contract in the municipality of Montalegre, in northeastern Portugal, signed between the Government and mining company Lusorecursos Portugal Lithium, has been shrouded in controversy. One of the reasons being the fact that the company was formed only three days before the contract was signed, leading to many questions regarding those who are truly behind the contract.
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