On 7 January, EDM – Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro, SA awarded Conduril Engenharia, SA the first phase of the environmental recovery works at the São Domingos former mining area in the municipality of Mértola, for 2.3 million euros.

The works consist of the execution of a retention basin and a system of canals on the right bank to divert waters from leaching contamination, thus achieving a significant reduction in the volume of acidic waters. The intervention will also allow a reduction in the discharge of pollutants, particularly for the Chança dam.

This new phase of the project follows the tendering procedure launched on 10 September 2016 at a ceremony at S. Domingos Mine attended by the Secretary of State for Energy, Jorge Seguro Sanches.

The works are due to start next spring, after official approval of the contract by the Court of Auditors.

The mining area of São Domingos, decommissioned in 1966, was mined for copper and sulphur for the production of sulphuric acid, as well as by-products such as lead, nickel, cobalt, silver, cadmium, arsenic, antimony and tin.

The intervention of EDM – Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro takes place under the concession contract awarded by the State, on an exclusive basis, for the environmental rehabilitation of degraded mining areas (DL 198-A/2001-6/7).