The electric car battery factory planned for Sines has obtained a favorable Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), subject to compliance with conditions defined by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA – Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente).
“The project in question aligns with European and national policies and objectives for energy transition towards achieving carbon neutrality,” says the APA. “The negative impacts identified, mostly susceptible to minimization, and the anticipated positive impacts lead to a favorable decision, conditioned upon compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this document.”
THE PROJECT WAS RECOGNIZED IN MARCH 2023 AS A PROJECT OF POTENTIAL NATIONAL INTEREST (PIN).
“In terms of residual impacts, some significant negative effects persist, such as vegetation removal for factory construction, potential increased pressure on Water Resources (consumption), and potential real estate pressure expected during the operational phase. These aspects will be properly managed and monitored during project implementation,” the document reads.
The APA also mandates compliance with an air quality monitoring program, a noise environment monitoring program, a groundwater quality monitoring program, and monitoring programs for flora, vegetation, and avifauna.
The project promoter is the China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology (CALB) company, which intends to invest two billion euros and will create 1800 direct jobs.
THIS PROJECT MAY REPRESENT OVER 4% OF GDP ONCE IN OPERATION.
The industrial unit will be located on a 45-hectare plot in the Industrial and Logistics Zone of Sines (ZILS).
The factory will have a capacity for 15 gigawatt hours (GWh).
The goal is to start the project by the end of next year: “With the aim of meeting the high demand from customers (mainly from the automotive industry), the intention is to ensure the start of production by the end of 2025,” the company states in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
According to Jornal Económico, in the first phase of investment, the company expects to only meet orders already in its portfolio in Europe. In a second phase, in 2028, the goal is to expand the facilities, scaling the unit from 15 to 45 GWh. In a third phase, the objective is to have a unit similar to a Tesla Gigafactory.
