The Parish Council of Tougues, in Vila do Conde, Porto district, postponed the public information session on the renewable biomethane production unit project scheduled for today, due to the anticipated high turnout and the lack of logistical conditions.
“Due to the high interest demonstrated by the population in participating in the public information session about the renewable biomethane unit project, it was concluded that the logistical conditions are not in place for the session to be effectively informative and productive,” announced the Council in a statement.
The municipality added that the session is suspended, with a new date to be announced “soon,” without indicating, for now, when and where it will be held.
“The Parish Council considers it fundamental that this session take place, allowing residents to learn about the project, directly pose their questions and obtain the necessary clarifications from the responsible entity,” reads the statement.
The initiative was intended to present a renewable biomethane production project in Tougues and was to include the presence of representatives from CapWatt, identified by the Council as responsible for the project.
In an initial statement, the Council said it was “attentive to the position expressed by the parishioners,” who, according to the municipality, “have expressed clearly their opposition to this project,” intending that concerns and questions be “properly heard, clarified and considered.”
Asked earlier by Lusa, the Vila do Conde City Council confirmed that it had received a Prior Information Request (PIP) about the project, aimed exclusively at assessing its urban viability, which obtained a favorable decision.
“Having verified that it complied with the applicable urban planning standards and did not require any alteration to the Municipal Master Plan, thereby complying with the law, the PIP had a favorable decision,” the municipality explained.
The Council stressed, however, that “this decision concerns exclusively urban viability and does not correspond to the licensing of the biomethane production activity,” adding that the project remains dependent “on the procedures, opinions and authorizations of the competent entities.”
The municipality also clarified that it is not the competent authority to authorize the exercise of the biomethane production activity and that it has not provided any financial support to the project.
Biomethane is a renewable gas obtained through the purification of biogas, produced by the decomposition of organic matter, namely biodegradable waste, which, after processing, can be used similarly to natural gas.
