The European Commission has selected Mina da Borralha. The only Portuguese project among the 46 new projects chosen in this selection.
Borralha holds tungsten, also known as wolfram: a raw material essential to the aerospace, technology and defence industries, for a more secure and diversified European supply. And it can create new opportunities for Montalegre, with skilled jobs and economic activity.
A closed system, with no abstraction from or discharge into rivers, springs or reservoirs.
The water to be used at Mina da Borralha comes exclusively from the old flooded galleries, and always circulates in a closed circuit.
The Mina da Borralha Project arises from the recognition of Portugal’s natural and historical heritage and from the conviction that this heritage should generate tangible benefits for the population.
It is an initiative grounded in the belief that the country’s resources should serve collective development, social cohesion, and the creation of opportunities for both present and future generations.
This also includes an active approach to environmental rehabilitation, promoting the recovery of areas affected by historical intervention and the enhancement of the surrounding space. The objective is the production of tungsten, a material widely used in modern industry and present in essential everyday technologies.
The reactivation of the Borralha Mine builds on a territory with more than eight decades of mining history and proposes an underground tungsten operation, with additional production of copper and tin concentrates.
Grounded in respect for the territory, for people, and for the country’s mining history, the project is developed in ongoing dialogue with the local community, valuing local knowledge and the participation of residents in building balanced solutions.
Borralha is not an isolated point on the map: it is a place shaped by memory, people, and history.
With an environmental licence approved following in-depth technical studies carried out responsibly by specialized teams and independent entities, the project moves forward supported by modern, efficient underground technologies that are carefully integrated into the territory.
The history of Borralha is deeply linked to tungsten mining in Portugal and dates back to the early 20th century. In 1902, the mining concession was granted, initiating a cycle of development that would come to shape both the local and national economy.
Following the closure of operations, the territory retained significant material and documentary traces. In 2015, the Borralha Mines Interpretive Centre was created, as part of the Barroso Ecomuseum, with the aim of preserving mining heritage and enhancing this legacy as a cultural and educational asset.
In Diário de Trás-os-Montes, Avelino Pinheiro, director of the Mina da Borralha project, explains where the future mine’s water will come from, how it will be used and what happens to it afterwards, arguing that the people of Borralha have a right to that information.
In Diário de Trás-os-Montes, Avelino Pinheiro, director of the Mina da Borralha project, argues that the debate on the future of Trás-os-Montes should be conducted with respect for people, reference to sources and recognition of technical knowledge.
In Diário de Trás-os-Montes, Avelino Pinheiro explores how Borralha’s tungsten could support Europe’s technology industries and create opportunities for investment, skilled jobs and regional development in Portugal.
