Ref. Ares(2022)4709993 - 28/06/2022
Brussels, 12 May 2022
Flash from a meeting between Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Vice-President and Mr.
of Savannah Resources
Date and time: 12 May 2022 at 11:00-11:30
Key points:
The CEO has briefly presented the state of play in developing the Barroso Lithium project. The
project aims at extending an existing lithium mine located in the north-eastern part of Portugal,
some 145 km from the city of Porto and the industrial port of Leixōes. The mine is owned by
Savannah Lithium, a Portuguese company that is owned by Savannah Resources PLC. The EIT
InnoEnergy joined the project in May 2020. In addition to supplying sustainably sourced lithium
for over 600,000 electric vehicles, importantly the mine would also create over 600 direct and
indirect jobs in the region.
Regarding the Barroso Project, the Vice-President welcomed an opportunity to discuss its
development, and stressed the necessity of ensuring full compliance of the project with the
environmental acquis and the highest standards on transparency and public engagement.
The Vice-President has also informed that access to critical raw materials (CRMs) is indispensable
for Europe’s twin green and digital transitions and increasing its defence capabilities. The Team
Europe approach is necessary to
o
enhancing Europe’s capacity to monitor the global commodities markets, and to anticipate
and effectively mitigate future CRMsupply chain disruptions;
o
fostering development of the most valuable and sustainable domestic CRMs projects along
the entire value chain, including refining;
o
implementing the circular economy, including recycling to ensure supply of secondary raw
materials in Europe; and
o
ensuring sustainability of the value chain and the compliance of all CRM-related operations
with the highest environmental and social standards.
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