Sousa Cintra threat to ask for compensation – Diário de Notícias – Lisbon

Repsol warrant that you are not going to give up on exploration, but promises to “maintain the dialogue”

The businessman Sousa Cintra ensures that it will not accept the lead of the government in the projects of oil exploration in the Algarve. Surprised, the president of the Portfuel classifies as “unacceptable” the decision of the secretary of State for Energy and admits from a legal battle.

“what I want is to do the work, continue the work and find out whether or not there is oil in the Algarve and if it is economically viable. Do not interest me compensation, but if teimarem in this situation we have no other remedy,” says the business owner in statements to the DN/Cash.

Sousa Cintra reminds you that has already invested a large sum in research papers, and refutes the thesis of the government that claims lack of experience of the Portfuel. “We have agreements with people who are important and enlightened. Any country of the world received it with open arms because it is necessary to know the richness that the country has in the basement. Until you get to the exploration there is a long way to go.”

The lawyer Portfuel, Andrew Figueira, stressed that the oil has not taken note of the opinion of the PGR which has supported the decision, according to which the company has not filed the civil liability insurance mandatory. André Figueira reminded that there existed an administrative procedure to terminate the contracts, but which expired due to lack of response. “It is all strange. Let us now try to have access to the opinion of the PGR, analyze the situation and then act accordingly,” said the lawyer Portfuel.

Who will not also withdraw from the contract for exploration of oil in the Algarve is the Repsol. Contacted by the DN/Live Money, the oil, the Spanish confirms that it has been notified by the government yesterday morning on the termination of the contract and the execution of bank guarantees in the amount of 4.5 million euros, but promises to “keep the dialog is usual with the relevant authorities”. The Partex, which participates in the consortium of Repsol, have not commented the decision of the executive.

THE DN reported yesterday that the government will terminate the contracts for prospecting and exploitation of petroleum in the Algarve with the company Portfuel, Sousa Cintra, and with the consortium of Repsol and Partex.

Environmentalists applaud the decision

On the contrary, environmentalists and residents ‘ associations areas covered by the around – Lagos and Tavira – were satisfied with the decision of the government. The president of the Community Intermunicipal do Algarve, Jorge Botelho, has held that the termination of the contracts is “a good decision”, that should have been taken long time ago, while civic movements in the region that were engaged in the fight against these contracts, which saw the measure as a victory for citizenship. João Martins, Motion Algarve Free of Oil (MÁLP), told Lusa that he is convinced that the mobilization region was “crucial” for the process to be hung. “Are all to be congratulated: those who have been involved in the fight against the prospecting for and exploitation of petroleum in the Algarve, which was a struggle for the future of the new generations and the sustainability of the region.”