Nelson Gomes, a resident of Portuguese village Covas do Barosso, wakes up early to tend to his cows and vegetable garden and also to prevent London-based mining company Savannah Resources from drilling on a contested plot of land.
The mining company aims to mine the lithium-rich subsoil of the region despite a decade-long opposition by the residents. Supported by Portugal's government, the operations will answer the unquenchable need for lithium in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions.
The film "Savannah and the Mountain" by Paulo Carneiro depicts the fight of the Covas do Barroso community against plans for the new lithium mines. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
The film portrays a community uniting to expel a foreign company trying to bring a lithium mine to their village, in a Wild West setting, blending fiction and reality.
European leaders are pushing to make the forgotten farming region in Portugal the largest lithium mining operation in Europe, facing fierce opposition from local residents.
Savannah Resources has been battling since 2018 for approval to open a lithium mine in Covas do Barroso, facing resistance from locals and the municipality.
The mining project faced a corruption scandal and political changes in Portugal. The film highlights the environmental and cultural impact of the proposed mining project.
Residents of Covas do Barroso are organizing to block the project, planned as the largest open-pit lithium mine in Europe, sharing work shifts and even having friendly moments with the company's workers.
Despite a lack of funding from the State Institute of Cinema, the film was made with support from Boticas municipality and the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency.
Europe and the U.S. are increasing their efforts to mine and process lithium domestically to meet clean energy goals.
Savannah's project has the potential to significantly impact the local economy and environment in the coming years. This potential is also dividing the locals. Some have sold their land to the company, supporting the mine for potential economic benefits. Differences between pro-mining and anti-mining groups in the village are leading to tensions, with continuous legal battles and protests.
Sources: Variety, liberation.fr, huffpost.com, portugalresident.com.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
