Archive · 3 Sep 2025
UN: Portugal Breached Treaty on Lithium Mine Information
A UN committee says Portugal did not let people know enough about a planned lithium mine.
This mine is in the Barroso region, which is a World Heritage site.
The committee said that Portugal broke a rule about sharing information with the public about the mine's environmental effects.
The government agency, APA, disagrees but says they followed the rules.
The UN committee found the APA didn't answer questions quickly and didn't tell people how to complain.
This complaint was started by a Spanish group.
The mine is planned by Savannah Resources, who wants to start mining lithium in 2027.
Lithium is a key part of batteries.
UN committee found Portugal breached an international treaty regarding a lithium mine.
The breach involved withholding information from the public during the environmental licensing process.
The complaint was filed by a Spanish preservation group in 2021.
Savannah Resources is developing the mine, aiming to start production in 2027.
Local groups and the UN are questioning the project’s transparency and environmental impact.
- Who
- UN Committee, Portugal's APA, Savannah Resources
- What
- Found Portugal breached an international treaty by withholding information about a lithium mine.
- When
- Wednesday
- Where
- Portugal
- Why
- Preventing public access to information on the lithium mine's environmental impact assessment.
Environmentalists/Public
APA/Savannah Resources
Transparency
Environmentalists/Public
Information about the mine was not accessible.
APA/Savannah Resources
All required information had already been made available.
- Event
- UN Committee findings on lithium mine
- Location
- Barroso region, Portugal
- Mine Developer
- Savannah Resources
- Lithium Reserves
- At least 28 million metric tons
- Production Goal
- 2027
- Convention
- Aarhus Convention