Portugal’s Environment Minister says he has asked Spain for more information on the Almaraz nuclear power plant and the new nuclear fuel dump planned at the site just 100kms from Portugal’s border.
"Today, Friday, we are going to send a new request to Spain for additional information on the project and on the environmental impacts and particularly on the trans-boundary environmental impacts," said Minister, João Matos Fernandes.
The minister added, and possibly believes, that Spain will deliver this information to the Portuguese Government, "In the week beginning March 13th when we will have news and announce how this environmental impact assessment will be discussed in public."
João Matos Fernandes, already out of his depth on many aspects of his remit, explained that the environmental impact assessment involves the technical assessment part and a second part that allows public consultation, which he assures will be carried out in Portugal.
"Spain has provided us with all the information we have requested. The evaluation of the quality of information is being made and I do not have a conclusive opinion on this matter at the moment," stressed the minister.
The European Commission announced on 21 February that Portugal and Spain governments had reached an "amicable settlement" in the dispute surrounding the Almaraz nuclear power plant, with Lisbon withdrawing a complaint to Brussels.
In fact, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Drunker bullied Portugal into backing down as he did not want dissent in the lower orders at a time when the European dream gradually is being dissolved by Brexit and dissent from other key member States.
On January 16, Portugal sent a complaint to the European Commission about Spain building a nuclear fuel dump on the banks of river Tagus which flows through Portugal as the Tejo.
The Portuguese Government argued that this fuel dump near the Almaraz nuclear power station was commissioned without the necessary assessment of cross-border impacts, which is against European rules.
There is no settlement, 'amicable' or otherwise and by forcing Portugal to drop its complaint, Juncker has twisted an EU legal process for his own political ends.
João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portugal's Environment Minister
