test drilling has already been conducted near covas do barroso.for most people here, however, this wealth is a curse. even in boticas, the region's main administrative town, we only found one person in favor of the project. >> i think it's important that we facilitate the lithium mine. we can't always just think about the environment. we've also got to think about the economy. >> it would appear the portuguese government is also intent on tracting the lithium. the ministry of environment and climate action informed us it was committed to the european green deal and wanted to help ensure that europe could meet its own lithium needs. the light metal could soon be extracted just over 100 kilometers to the south of covas do barroso. in vila garcia where quartz mines already exist, and where there's less resistance from the largely older population, people here are used to mining. >> i'm not sure what the plan is or whether it'll be beneficial to us. >> some say it'll create jobs. and we need those. >> this makes their job all the more difficult. josÉ

test drilling has already been conducted near covas do barroso.for most people here, however, this wealth is a curse. even in boticas, the region's main administrative town, we only found one person in favor of the project. >> i think it's important that we facilitate the lithium mine. we can't always just think about the environment. we've also got to think about the economy. >> it would appear the portuguese government is also intent on tracting the lithium. the ministry of environment and climate action informed us it was committed to the european green deal and wanted to help ensure that europe could meet its own lithium needs. the light metal could soon be extracted just over 100 kilometers to the south of covas do barroso. in vila garcia where quartz mines already exist, and where there's less resistance from the largely older population, people here are used to mining. >> i'm not sure what the plan is or whether it'll be beneficial to us. >> some say it'll create jobs. and we need those. >> this makes their job all the more difficult. josÉ

his cover sto barroso in northern portugal on the one side foreign companies wanting to mind, lithium, a key component in batteries, and on the other side, protest and such as nelson gall mesh, who believes it will destroy the ecological balance. every morning, nelson coleman walked through his barn with a heavy heart. he wondered how much longer he will be able to keep his cattle. many who live here in covert davosto in northeastern portugal farm for a living. but that could soon change because of a lithium mine. them, if i them, we had gotten the msm that we added on. we're talking about meaning on a huge scale for the school, but a all the rocky debris of i what the volumes of water that will be consumed melody, the noise for the rude you pull up and we're right next door will a sound ignore stamped won't bross him an entire village feels threatened, and his intent and blocking the project. this banner reads no to the mine. yes, to life. these signs say together we resist. you know, some gomez and his neighbors have founded a citizen's initiative. carlos gone 5 as is also on board.