“We feel that a project of this magnitude should not be restricted to a public consultation on an online site. It is a very large project [Sophia solar power plant], with immense impacts on people's lives and not only that, but also at the environmental level,” Ricardo Carvalho, from the Gardunha Sul Civic Movement, told Lusa news agency.

The protesters gathered around 2:30 pm in front of the Fundão City Hall, in the Castelo Branco district, and later moved to the Fundão Technological Business Incubator, where the solemn session for the inauguration of the new municipal executive was taking place.

The activist also recalled that once again it is necessary to question why this region has to be the sacrifice zone and it is necessary to know whose decision it is.

“Who decides this? Why do we have to be, once again, a sacrifice zone when nothing remains here afterwards?” he questioned.

The Sophia photovoltaic solar power plant, which covers the municipalities of Fundão, Idanha-a-Nova, and Penamacor in the Castelo Branco district, represents an investment of approximately €590 million and has an installed capacity of 867 MWp (Megawatt peak).

The plant has a projected annual production of 1,271 GWh (gigawatt-hours), allowing it to generate energy equivalent to supplying more than 370,000 homes.

Ricardo Carvalho explained that the objective of concentrating near the location where the new executive was taking office is to try to win over the political power to this cause.

“We also want to win over the political power that is taking office now, to join their constituents, and we also want to understand the municipality's position on this, because we need their support to clarify everything involved here,” he argued.

According to the head of the civic movement, what's at stake isn't just the Sophia photovoltaic megaproject.

“We realize it's not just this. There's much more to come. There are already many solar parks in the region. To what extent are we aware of their impacts? We feel that's not the way to go. We want answers and help to clarify all this,” he stressed.

“No transparency”

The activist emphasized that it's necessary to rethink this level of participation, which is very poor.

“Participating isn't just about sending very heavy information, which is even very difficult for people to understand. We feel that there is, in fact, no transparency in the way these projects are implemented,” he said.

The movement also appealed to the population to unite.

“Obviously, we won't stop here. It's important that we are present in parish and municipal assemblies. That's where we can also exercise our participation as citizens,” he concluded.

Gardunha Sul is a civic movement of citizens residing in the Union of Parishes of Vale de Prazeres and Mata da Rainha (municipality of Fundão) that aims for greater involvement, more active participation, and the building of bridges between local government and citizens.