Four months later, Sifucel – Silicas SA “returned to work” in the Monchique mountains. On October 15th of last year, earth and stone removal works were detected in the Carapitotas area, and the CCDR and the Chamber of Monchique seized the work. But, this Monday, at the same place, a rotating machine was unloaded and was preparing to go back to work, which the Monchiquense mayor says is related to prospecting for feldspars.
When he learned of what was happening, the mayor of Monchique Rui André contacted SEPNA, which went to the scene, and ordered the movement to stop. On Tuesday, the rotating machine was removed.
Rui André advanced to the Sul Informação that it did not allow and “I will not allow any more work in that location. If necessary, I'll go there with the GNR and order the arrest of whoever is doing it. As long as there is no license, there is no land movement».
According to the mayor, "if the authorities stop the work, which is embargoed, and they continue, this is a crime of disobedience, and not only the company, but also the machine operator, may have other consequences", he guarantees.
Since the Sul Informação wrote about the topic, on January 12th, the situation did not progress at official level: the embargo of the Chamber and the CCDR was not lifted, the company in question did not request a work permit and the General Directorate of Energy and Geology, responsible for the concession of mineral prospecting and exploration zones , did not comment favorably on the requests that Sifucel made to that entity.
“The DGEG has not yet said anything to the Chamber. We don't have any official knowledge that that company can work there. Therefore, it is an unauthorized activity, that is, illegal», reinforces Rui André.
The company's response to the notice of embargo has “arguments that make no sense: they say they are deforesting, or planting cork oaks, but even for that, a license is needed. This is all a big mess!”, accuses the mayor.
For Rui André, «it suggests that they are used to this type of practice, that they are aware of the procedures that the official entities have to follow and, in the meantime, they are going ahead with the work».
The mayor compares the situation of feldspar exploration in Monchique with hydrocarbon exploration in the Algarve. “It's a bit like oil. It is a raw material that generates very large economic interests and there are lobbies, which often manage to surpass the interests of the populations».
However, Rui André clarifies that he is not "against the extraction of felspat in the Serra de Monchique". If it is “a raw material that can be used, even support. But that place has many conditions, there are water springs that supply Alferce. If an exploration goes ahead there, Alferce will run out of water!” he warns.
Although the final decision to grant an exploration license is the responsibility of the DGEG, and not the municipality, the mayor says that, «if government entities decide to approve an exploration in that location, we will have an even stronger position. That area is part of the public water supply perimeter and water is an essential asset. If it doesn't fall on the other hand, it falls somewhere», he concludes.
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