Corruption crisis engulfs Portugal

Portugal’s socialist prime minister António Costa has resigned amid an investigation into possible crimes of corruption in government involving lithium and hydrogen projects


António Costa (above) not named as suspect, but prosecutors say they have become aware of suspects using Costa’s name and authority to “unblock procedures” relating to deals


PROJECTS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Lithium: Approvals for local company Lusorecursos to extract battery-grade lithium in Montalegre and for London-based Savannah Resources to develop its mine in Barroso

“Green” hydrogen
Creation of 100MW hydrogen production hub in port of Sines by H2Sines consortium

Sines data centre
Large-scale project by Anglo-American firm Start Campus


Montalegre
Barroso
PORTUGAL
Lisbon
Sines
SPAIN
100km 60 miles


Detained: Costa’s chief of staff Vítor Escária (above left), business consultant Diogo Lacerda Machado (above right), mayor of Sines and two company executives


Formal suspects: Infrastructure Minister João Galamba (above left) and Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) President Nuno Lacasta (above right)


Sources: BBC, Reuters 
Picture: Getty Images, YouTube 
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