The National Laboratory of Energy and Geology says “it is not possible to conclude that the best prospecting practices are being proposed”, but the municipality and the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests) have already given the green light.
Mining prospecting application in Mirandela under consultation, already with favourable assessments
Tuesday, 27 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
ICNF is Portugal’s Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas), the state agency that manages protected areas, forests and many environmental licences. In this story ICNF matters because changes to laws or ministerial guidance can affect whether projects pass environmental checks or need different permits.
