Significant Increase in Lithium Reserves
On September 15, 2025, Savannah Resources announced a nearly 40% increase in reserves at its Barroso lithium project in northern Portugal. The upgrade cements Barroso’s position as the European Union’s flagship spodumene deposit, boosting confidence in Europe’s ability to secure domestic supplies of lithium—an essential input for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems. The company highlighted that the updated reserve estimate followed extensive drilling and geological reassessments.
Strategic Importance for Europe
The Barroso project is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which seeks to reduce reliance on imports from China and other external suppliers. With the reserve increase, the mine is expected to contribute more significantly to Europe’s target of sourcing at least 10% of its critical minerals domestically. Officials and industry leaders see Barroso not only as a source of raw material but also as a catalyst for downstream investments in refining and battery manufacturing within the EU.
Challenges and Outlook
Despite the positive reserve news, Barroso faces hurdles in the form of local community opposition, environmental scrutiny, and permitting delays. Portugal’s government has pledged to ensure that lithium development aligns with sustainability and community benefits, but tensions remain over land use and ecological impacts. For Savannah Resources, the challenge will be to translate geological potential into timely production, while for Europe, the project symbolizes both the promise and the political complexity of building secure, local supply chains for the green transition.