The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) issued an unfavorable opinion on the Environmental Impact Study for the installation of BioAdvance’s biofuel industrial unit at the seaport of Figueira da Foz, on the coast of the Coimbra district.
The public body’s negative opinion dates from the end of August, but the disclosure was made today by councillor João Martins at a city council meeting.
With the APA’s rejection, the Centro Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC) is unable to issue the industrial license for that company, which had been operating in 2025 without the proper licenses and was investigated for a possible crime of pollution with danger to the public.
According to the city council president, Pedro Santana Lopes, it should be the administration of the Port of Figueira da Foz to deal with the company regarding the possible demolition of the structures already erected at the terminal of that maritime infrastructure.
In June, while the public consultation of BioAdvance’s new licensing process was still underway, the Municipal Assembly of Figueira da Foz approved a motion from the Evoluir Figueira coalition (BE, Livre and PAN) to defend the closure and dismantling of that biofuels industrial unit.
“The entire BioAdvance process is marked by a history of serious irregularities, omissions and incomplete reports that seek to escape legal and environmental scrutiny,” stated the document, which was approved with 16 votes in favour and 24 abstentions.
Its installation resulted from a concession contract signed in August 2022 with the port administration, which issued in December of the same year the license permit, after an application approved by the System of Incentives for Business Innovation – Green and the project had been recognised as of National Potential Interest (PIN).
In February 2025, the CCDRC confirmed the suspension of the PIN project status for lack of a Digital Installation Title, “which would enable the execution of the establishment project of the type 1 industrial facility”.
Also the Agency for Investment and External Trade of Portugal (AICEP) invoked the lack of licenses for the unit to suspend the PIN project status.
Although licensing had not yet been approved, in March 2025 the company had received around four million euros in EU funds, according to data consulted by the Lusa agency.
