Mining in Portugal
Mining in Portugal is regulated by the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and the Geology and Energy Resources authority under the state-run research institute INETI. Mining activities have continued since the pre-Roman era, when most of the region was known as Lusitania. Gold was once mined. The country remains among the largest European producers of copper and minerals. Portugal's non-ferrous metal ore mining industry had a market size of €580.1 million in 2024, ranking 8th in Europe by revenue.[1]
Portugal is the 7th-largest producer of copper (37,900 tonnes in 2021) and second-largest producer of zinc (160,000 tonnes in 2020) in the European Union, and is also the 10th largest global producer of tungsten and tin.[2] However, the country lacks hydrocarbon exploration potential, as well as iron, aluminium or coal. The most prominent mines in the country are Neves-Corvo, Panasqueira and Mua.
Lithium is another important resource, with new deposits for the battery industry in development[3][4][5], although these are subject to environmental concerns.[6] The state-owned Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro is involved in the environmental rehabilitation of abandoned mines.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Spotlight on Mining in Portugal". The MINEX Forum. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Enhancing regional mining ecosystems in Portugal" (PDF). OECD. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ Goncalves, Sergio (15 July 2024). "Portugal's mining strategy may favour copper over lithium". Reuters. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Portugal plans to hold delayed lithium tender in 2025". mining.com. The Northern Miner Group. Reuters. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Mapa do Minério". MiningWatch Portugal. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ Igini, Martina (9 February 2026). "Environmental Groups Sue EU Over Controversial Lithium Mine in Portugal". Earth.org. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ Environmental rehabilitation of abandoned mines in Portugal (PDF). Meeting on Inventories of Closed Mine Waste Facilities. Budapest: EDM. May 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
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