Update on Lawsuit involving APA/Ministry

Savannah Resources Plc, the developer of the Barroso Lithium Project (the 'Project') in Portugal, Europe's largest spodumene lithium deposit, provides an update following yesterday's announcement relating to the lawsuit brought by the Parish of Covas do Barroso against the Portuguese Environmental Agency ('APA') and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action as defendants (the "Lawsuit").

English Translation of the APA Statement

"Considering the content of today's news, which notes the opinion of the Public Ministry on the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) issued for the preliminary study of the Mina do Barroso, and despite the fact that this Agency is still analyzing it, it is pertinent to point out, from the outset, that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure was carried out in accordance with the legal terms of the respective legal regime.

In this context, it should be remembered that a multidisciplinary Evaluation Committee was appointed which, although coordinated by the APA as the competent EIA authority, included 8 other entities and various specialists with competence and vast experience in the technical matters now referred to by the Public Ministry.

These entities include public administration bodies such as the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission, the National Energy and Geology Laboratory and the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, as well as higher education entities and research centers such as the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and the Higher Institute of Agronomy / Center for Applied Ecology Prof. Baeta Neves.

The issues now referred to by the Public Ministry, such as the impacts on water resources, ecological systems, cultural heritage and the landscape, were thoroughly analyzed and weighed up by the Evaluation Commission, as is clear from the opinions it issued and which were the basis for the favorable conditional EIS issued by this Agency.

It should be remembered that both the opinions of the Evaluation Committee and the EIS are available to read on this Agency's EIA Information System, namely via the following links:

Opinion of the Evaluation Committee - Link

Opinion of the Evaluation Committee - Link

DIA - Link

Lastly, it should be noted that the opinion of the Public Ministry is merely an opinion on the possible merits of the case, i.e. it has no binding effect on the judge who will pass sentence in the case, and it is understood that the procedural documents presented, as a whole, make it possible to refute any of the alleged illegalities invoked and uphold the validity of the contested DIA.

Without prejudice, the Agency is currently analyzing this opinion and, in due course, will decide whether it is justified, in due procedural terms, to submit a response to it."

Savannah will make further announcements regarding the Lawsuit as appropriate.

Regulatory Information

Savannah - Enabling Europe's energy transition.

Follow @SavannahRes on X

Follow Savannah Resources on LinkedIn