Nearly two hundred people demonstrated this Thursday at the door of the Assembly of the Republic against the planned exploration of oil at sea, about 47 kilometers off the coast of Aljezur and Odemira.
Meanwhile, representatives of associations and mayors were being heard in Parliament, as part of the analysis of the petition that gathered around 42 signatures against the ENI/GALP consortium's borehole in the Alentejo basin, off Aljezur.
At the hearing, José Amarelinho, mayor of Aljezur, asked deputies to engage with the Government to end contracts that allow prospecting, considering that the process was not very transparent and will cause damage to the population and the region.
The socialist mayor, who has been one of the most active against the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Algarve, even suggested the creation of a parliamentary inquiry commission, which would analyze the entire process, and accused the Government of giving in to the interests of oil companies.
Abroad, the demonstrators, gathered from 13 pm in front of the Assembly of the Republic, shouted “No to the hole, yes to the future” and, among slogans and more or less elaborate choreographies, exhibited posters saying “Surf and oil are not compatible ”, “Oil-Algarve, no thanks”, “For a future with decentralized solar energy”.
The demonstration was called by the association “Algarve Surf And Marine Activities” (ASMAA), which, with this protest, intended to give a voice to the populations of the Algarve and Alentejo, namely those of the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, who oppose the consortium's intentions ENI/GALP to proceed with the exploration of an oil hole at sea.
The organization also criticizes the “irregularities” in the licensing of the project and the “contempt” of the Government for the more than 42.000 contributions against the scoop received in the public consultation.
Speaking to Rádio Renascença, José Alberto Guerreiro, mayor of Odemira, said that “it doesn't make any sense” to accept oil exploration on the Southwest Coast, “even above, facing a natural park, with protection regimes that are so demanding for the populations”.
"This is an entire coastline involved in unique environmental values at a European level with protected species", stressed the mayor of Alentejo in declarations to the Renaissance.
There are several precautionary measures awaiting a decision, namely those filed by the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve, whereby the mayor hopes that the courts will stop oil exploration in the Southwest.
The authorization given to the ENI/GALP consortium to carry out the prospection offshore has already motivated protests from environmental associations and movements, of fishermen, but also of the NERA – Business Association of the Algarve, from Algarve Tourist Region, as well as motions in various municipal bodies, such as the Chamber of Odemira.
The CEO of Galp Energia stated on Tuesday that offshore drilling off the Alentejo coast could take place this year.
According to Carlos Gomes da Silva, the exploratory oil well on the Alentejo coast, some 80 kilometers from Sines, will have to advance between April and May, a time when sea conditions allow it.
Photos Jose Goncalves, to whom the Sul Informação thanks:
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