Letter from a Friend:
Canadians begin to explore gold in Sabrosa
On the plateau of Jales, Sabrosa, await with great interest the early experimental exploration of gold, six months after a Canadian company has won the tender.
The Mayor of Sabrosa, Domingos Dias, told Lusa that the information was not confirmed, that the company will start operating from February 15.
The Lusa tried to confirm this information, which was not possible until now.
The Almada Mining SA (100% owned by the Canadian company Petaquilla Minerals Ltd) won the contest in July experimental exploration of gold for three years in Jales / Gralheira.
The mayor acknowledged that the region is expected to "high expectations" because "the project will generate important jobs."
Domingos Dias stressed the urgency to fight unemployment and depopulation affecting the county Montes, who saw in recent times, leaving many residents.
Initially, according to the mayor, are not created many jobs. "It will be more technical, but it will be something that will even influence the local economy," he added.
If the work gets off in February, the project will enter a second phase, after three to four months.
"So, yes, we have some jobs that will be important for the region," he stressed.
The investment involved in this process could reach 66 million euros and is expected in the exploration phase the creation of 100 direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs.
Within the procedure are mandatory minimum work required to be completed during this first phase of three years, which translates into a predictable investment exceeding 26 million.
After this period, the company may request the granting final and, once prepared and approved its Environmental Impact Study, launch a final operation, which corresponds to an additional investment of 40 million euros.
Ever since the Roman Empire which, by region, explores whether this precious metal.
Jales mines, which closed in the 90s, were the last mines where gold was extracted in Portugal.
At the height of the farm, came to work in the mines about 800 workers that drew about 30 kilos of gold per month.
Population and face the mayoral takeover as an opportunity for the county and remember the difficulties experienced at the closure of the mine in Field Jales. Was unemployment, followed by depopulation, abandonment of buildings and environmental problems, with heaps left open.
In 20 years, the parish has lost about 20% of the inhabitants.
Lusa / SOL
AI
