Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email 4.8 million euros is needed for a new environmental recovery project at the former Aljustrel mine With an expenditure of more than 4.8 million euros, the municipality of Aljustrel announced that the new environmental recovery project for the old mining area of Aljustrel will proceed in the first half of this year promoted by the Mining Development Company (c) is "a complementary phase to the hydrological-environmental rehabilitation that has previously been carried out in different interventions” which will be co-financed by the Alentejo 2030 regional operating program have a 12-month execution duration and were presented by EDM to the local government and Secretary of State for Energy The intervention will focus on the “confinement of 350,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil and the covering of an area of approximately 120,000 square meters of exposed waste” “a large area of unsuitable soil will be re-naturalised and areas with topographical deficiencies will be modelled” After EDM completed four contracts on the site between 2006 and 2015 totalling around 11.9 million euros in investment the former mining area of Aljustrel is now in a complementary phase of environmental rehabilitation The municipality claims that these interventions gave “a new purpose to the abandoned mining areas, safeguarding environmental issues and preserving the heritage structures resulting from mining activity present in the territory” and enabled the creation of the Aljustrel Mining Park which was officially opened in December 2023 We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal and Lucia ( the seers at the Fatima miracle) were born and lived The museum is set in one of the houses on the same street where the children’s homes are located Several scenes are set up and depict life in the area in the late 19th century and well into the 20th century There is information available about the site and the village and its residents I feel that this museum is an informative attraction and has great historical significance It gives you a feel for Fatima and its miracle You can almost experience the manner in which the three children lived from day to day in 1917 You are immersed in the lives and every day activities and hardships of the village residents I visited the children’s homes and there was not much else Today there are shops with handicrafts and souvenirs of the Fatima story Even though the place gets busloads of tourists there is a serene air about it and its residents The hamlet is “spruced up” compared to what it looked like in the 70’s but it’s O.K A stop in Aljustrel is a must for those who want to really experience the story of Fatima Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Almina-Minas do Alentejo will halt production of zinc and lead concentrates at it Aljustrel operation from September 24 until the second quarter of 2025 because zinc prices are too low Profitability has become a problem for zinc producers in Europe facing sliding prices and rising production costs Benchmark zinc prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have tumbled nearly 30% since late January to around $2,500 a metric ton on Tuesday Privately owned Almina produced 215,000 tons of zinc concentrate and 50,000 tons of lead concentrate which would amount to around 99,000 tons of zinc metal and 20,000 tons of lead metal Swedish miner Boliden has suspended production at its Tara mine in Ireland because of “unsustainable financial losses” Tara produced 103,000 tons of zinc in concentrate last year 40% of Boliden’s zinc concentrate output (By Pratima Desai; Editing by Jason Neely) and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Gruyere gold mine joint venture partners Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources reach agreement on a friendly deal to consolidate ownership. The initiative will be delivered through the regional joint venture established by Fleet Space Technologies and Tahreez. The US central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady in this meeting. Romania has major reserves of rare earths, gold and copper, which have attracted interest from Canadian and American firms. There are many gastronomic stops you can make on your way to one of the Portuguese's favorite summer destinations These are just our first three suggestions The Algarve is still one of the summer vacation destinations favorite of the Portuguese whose summer mecca is almost three hours away Although many choose to take the direct route stopping only briefly at a pump to stretch their legs or go to the toilet there are those who like to make small detours and stop along the way to indulge in the delicious Alentejo cuisine We love stopping for lunch on the way to the Algarve and these are just the first three restaurants we suggest It’s in the friendly village of Aljustrel and was our most recent visit on our way to the Algarve but further inside you’ll find a room capable of satisfying the hunger of more than 15 guests (perfect for large families) which was wonderfully prepared by the owner and cook of the house a very nice lady who treated us like kings the Zé Inácio restaurant is one of our favorites every time we pass through Porto Covo on our way to the Algarve especially if you’re looking for the fish of the summer: we’re talking about the traditional grilled sardines there are other dishes such as the Açorda Alentejana de Bacalhau which is some of the best we’ve had in these parts of our beloved Portugal Since this is a popular restaurant for vacationers in the area our suggestion is that you arrive a little early so you don’t have to wait in line for too long This restaurant on the way to the Algarve may well be one of the best known to those who make the journey every year where foreigners are always coming to taste the best of traditional Alentejo cuisine it is undoubtedly one of the best places to stop and sample the snacks and delicacies of these lands who will surely give you the best suggestions for dishes and wine to accompany your meal: our Monkfish Rice was divine Cidades, vilas e praias da costa litoral portuguesa que valem a pena a viagem The downward trend of the zinc price in 2023 has contributed to reduced output at four mines so far and based on our 2023 zinc price forecast of $2,500 /t further mine closures may occur before the price can begin a sustained recovery The downward trend of the zinc price in 2023 has contributed to reduced output at four mines so far in 2023: The four mines that have already paused production have not yet had a significant impact on zinc prices putting more operations at risk and thus forcing miners to act Based on CRU’s 2023 zinc price forecast of $2,500 /t and $2,200 /t for the last quarter of 2023 we focus on the all-in-sustaining costs in 2023 to identify which other mines are within the risk zone at a zinc price of $2,500 /t A few mines stand out as major producers with an output of over 100 kt of zinc each but whose costs remain below the current forecast price Nexa and Lundin control operations are occupying the area between the 50th and 75th percentiles This zone appears ‘safe for now’ but all potentially face pressure to preserve cashflow if the zinc price keeps falling for the remainder of the year and in 2024 Zinc mine supply in 2015 had already shrunk due to the closure of MMG’s Century and Vedanta’s Lisheen in Australia and Ireland Glencore – the world’s largest zinc miner – announced cuts of about a third of its annual output as well as operations in South America and Kazakhstan Those supply cuts during the 2015 Q4 gave a significant boost to the zinc price leading to a continuous rally that reached $3,400 /t in 2018 Q2 Cash costs historically offer price support between the 75th and 90th percentiles and now with prices below the 90th centile the market is starting to respond with these four suspensions Glencore’s Mt Isa and McArthur River mines are both worth watching History has a tendency of repeating itself and if we take 2015–2016 as a guide we might expect similar measures this time around China mines where the all-in sustaining costs exceed our 2023 Q4 price forecast of $2,200 /t and are therefore also at higher risk of a cashflow squeeze and potential closure these mines account for around 1,200 kt of annual production equating to some 300,000 t of production in Q4 which could be considered “at risk” Based on modelled mine plans and incorporating CRU’s latest macroeconomic assumptions we expect the zinc industry cost deflation next year to provide some relief amid a deteriorating price environment for the metal CRU forecasts (nominal) LME cash zinc prices to average $2,150 /t and are expected to fall below $2,000 /t in 2024 Q2 China mines will have AISC higher than $2,000 /t This ‘at risk’ group produces around 1,100 kt of zinc which translates approximately into 8% of global production (in addition to the losses at Tara with McArthur River and Velardena being the most significant among this group It is important to emphasise that we have used AISC to better highlight those assets in the ‘danger zone’ supply responses to prices have tended to occur when the price sinks below the 90th centile of cash costs as mine management can thrift capital expenditures or corporate leadership can endure negative cashflows (for a short period) and history has shown that periods of supply discipline have been necessary to bring this market back into balance The four mine closures to-date illustrate the pressure producers are starting to endure and more seem likely to follow if prices remain in decline as is forecast Register to continue reading and gain access to all CRU articles CRU's unique services are the product of both our in-depth understanding of the markets and close contact with our customers Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL Magazine Free Daily E-Letter Video Our Experts Testimonials FAQsTopics Living overseas since 2011 Terry and her husband went on a housesitting assignment to Portugal in 2018 and they knew they’d found a place they wanted to call home There is the road less traveled that cuts through the center of the country for those looking for more adventure is the longest national road in Portugal at 739 kilometers One of the longest national roads in the world it is outdistanced only by Route 66 in the U.S below the Spanish border in the city of Chaves and ends at the city of Faro in the Algarve Driving the N2 without stopping along the way takes between six and seven hours but offers little to no enjoyment stopping briefly in some towns while lingering longer in others a charming city with a population of about 42,000 complemented by a medieval castle with gardens offering mountain views in the distance and restaurants dot the city while a well-preserved Roman bridge crosses the Tâmegariver Pick up an N2 passport at the nearby tourist office and have it stamped officially marking the start of this iconic road trip The passport book includes a map and suggests 35 stops along the route with indications of places to have the passport stamped as a nice keepsake Vidago and Pedras Salgadas are both known for their thermal waters and famous spas that date back to the 19th century Vidago has a former palace which has been turned into a pricey spa and hotel while Pedras Salgadas has an expansive park and natural area Since we found no free spots to access the thermal waters Vila Pouca de Aguiar was by far one of our favorite stops along the N2 one of the must-see’s here was a castle situated in the mountains we realized that the castle was nothing more than a small ruined tower and decided it was not worth hiking up to we stumbled upon a tiny village of granite homes where time had seemingly come to a standstill A small community of mostly elderly farmers lived in this village called “Castelo,” aptly named for the castle that once stood nearby we asked permission in Portuguese to take photographs has a population of 51,000 and is composed of stately old homes adorned with wrought-iron balconies A lively central plaza is lined with shops On the outskirts of the city is the House of Mateus a stately private mansion with extensive gardens open to the public by tour only The Mateus family has been producing quality wines for the past 75 years and the opulent house attests to their success Discover why we love a slower pace of life Portugal and info on other European countries in our daily postcard e-letter Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you a FREE REPORT – Explore the Old World in Laidback Portugal The city of Porto is a popular destination for those who desire to see the spectacular views of the Douro Valley and river by the same name the lesser-known area called the Alto Douro sits virtually unnoticed in the center of the country Tourists here can take day trips along the Douro River Some offer round-trip voyages while others offer train rides back from Porto This was another favorite stop on our road trip Breathtaking views of lush vineyards climbing the impressive hills that surrounded the area Jaw-dropping scenery as far as our eyes could see I could almost taste the fragrant wines that filled the air but that indulgence would need to wait until later a city of 17,000 that sits alongside the Douro River The city once served as a vital component in the country’s wine production and the sale of port wine It was here that the wine was put into barrels and shipped to Vila Nova de Gaia Today the area is dotted with elegant mansions perched on hills terraced vineyards bearing signs with the names of the families who own them sits nestled among the terraced vineyards of the Douro rocky streets leading up to its medieval castle A few handsome churches still exist nearby while locals mingle with friends at nearby cafes The stunning Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedios is where tourists climb the imposing baroque staircase (which has 686 steps) Those who make it to the top are rewarded with a panoramic view overlooking the area Castro Daire is a small village with a cobbled old town and a handful of churches and historic buildings to see historic town center that offers stately fountains and historic buildings A bustling cafe culture offers an animated mix of tourists and locals Not far from the city center is a large university that gives the city a youthful An adorable wooden bridge crossed the river as we watched ducks float by from the wooden walkway The streets were lined with traditional granite houses where locals peered out from open-shuttered windows wondering who the strangers in the neighborhood were Góis is a sleepy village offering a swimming area along the river surrounded by a nice family-friendly green space A riverfront cafe offers cold drinks or a place to chill on a hot summer afternoon Penacova features a family-friendly natural area and beach along the Mondego River Nearby windmills offer a picturesque remembrance of the past are hidden communities in the mountains where homes are constructed from schist a type of flat rock commonly found in the area Although there are 27 schist villages in Portugal We took a brief detour off the N2 to visit a few of these magical gems Some offered lodging for hikers passing through the area on marked trails but most did not offer anything in the way of restaurants or shopping Abrantes is a working-class Portuguese city of about 40,000 that sits on the hillside of the River Tagus Although the city has a castle and some historic remnants livable city with a large shopping mall and a modern vibe Penedo Furado is an area known for its river beach with a waterfall surrounded by green hills and mountains We passed through and moved on to our next destination Água Formosa was a pleasant surprise that took us away from the N2 for a short detour here locals live off the land as they did so long ago Geodesic Center of Portugal is a museum and monument that denotes the center of Portugal Nothing more than a quick stop—this is one of those touristy spots in which to stop and take a photo to prove we have been there Sertã is a municipality in the Castelo Branco district that sits along the Zêzere River this typical Portuguese city has an unusual five-cornered castle that offers views of the Serra da Estrela mountains Another favorite stop along the N2 is the city of Évora in the Alentejo region of Portugal the city of 56,000 has a charming old town the best-preserved Roman temple on the Iberian Peninsula an extensive wall that once served to protect it Évora has a youthful feel because of its large university was a jaw-dropping experience and certainly one of our favorite stops Step back in time and stroll along the streets of this medieval village and just imagine what life was like easily walkable road to see the remains of a castle and even a jail surrounded by breathtaking views of the Alentejo Our trip to Beja was a slight detour off the N2 to find accommodations for the night and to explore this other liveable city in the Alentejo region the city is surrounded by extensive plains of nothing as far as the eye can see Ferreira do Alentejo is a sleepy little village with a few shops and restaurants Right on the main street of the village is a small Aljustrel is another stop in the Alentejo region that was well worth the stop The town is famous for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus which has 577 zig-zagging steps with 17 landings adorned with elaborate statues Upon closer look we found a road that reached most of the way and offered some of the most stunning views of the Alentejo region we had ever seen has a traditional cobbled town center with a few shops The 18th-century Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição has a stunning interior with a golden altar that serves as a contrast to the blue- and white-tiled walls that surround it Almodôvar is a peaceful little village with a Roman bridge former Chinese-style palace in the center of town it was time to pass from the expansive plains of the Alentejo to the Atlantic coastline of the Algarve But first we would need to tackle the 365 curves of the Serra do Caldeirão a mountain pass which was not nearly as bad as we first thought This area offers nothing in the way of stops for breaks or food Algarvian village with a tiny town center with a church and park A handful of cafes and shops line the streets Faro is a traditional working-class city with less of a touristy feel than the rest of the Algarve it features a small marina surrounded by restaurants The large town center offers an array of cobbled streets lined with shops My final thoughts about the N2 are as follows: Because the N2 is an older road we often had to detour to larger towns to find food and lodging for the night While there are some rural accommodations along the way that provide a room in someone’s home These are not places visited by most tourists so we often found there was no English spoken and had to rely on our Portuguese For travelers with no knowledge of the language Even though it uses the Brazilian version of Portuguese The good news is that even the smallest towns in Portugal have grocery stores and most have a cafe where you can stop for a quick meal they serve as the perfect place to pick up snacks Taking the road less traveled is quite often a rewarding experience and the scenery—from both our travels and the interactions we had with the people who are always warm and wonderful The Best Places to Live in Portugal From $1,600 a Month Portugal Itinerary: How to Spend 7 Days in Portugal Is Portugal a Safe Place to Live? The global zinc market is facing a sizeable supply deficit in 2024 as a raw materials squeeze forces smelters to reduce production of refined metal The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) has significantly revised its assessment of zinc market dynamics since it last met in April A previously anticipated supply surplus of 56,000 metric tons has been updated to a 164,000-ton supply deficit Mine production is now expected to fall for a third consecutive year and smelter treatment terms a good indicator of raw material availability which hosts the world’s largest smelter network is feeling the margin pinch and national production of refined zinc is sliding at an accelerating rate Back in April ILZSG expected mine production to rise by 0.7% year-on-year in 2024 that forecast has been slashed with mined zinc output now on track to fall by 1.4% to 12.06 million tons This will be the third straight year of sliding output with anticipated 2024 production 5.7% lower than 2021 Low zinc prices in 2023 took a heavy toll of higher-cost operators where the suspension of the Tara mine in Ireland and Aljustrel in Portugal will cause regional production to slump by 11.4% this year The resulting squeeze on smelter margins has become more acute as the year has progressed Spot treatment charges for Chinese imports of zinc concentrates fell into negative territory for the first time ever in August and have continued sliding Local data provider Shanghai Metal Market assesses the spot market at a negative $40 per ton highlighting the mismatch between smelter demand and raw material availability China’s refined metal output was dropping even before some of the country’s top producers met in August to agree on curbing run-rates The pace of decline has accelerated in the last couple of months SMM estimates zinc metal output was down by 7.6% year-on-year in August and expects the gap to have widened to 10.4% in September ILZSG forecasts full-year Chinese output to be 3.4% lower than 2023 contributing to a 1.8% drop in global production when the group expected refined output to rise by 0.6% The group’s demand forecasts have been tweaked but not significantly changed Usage is expected to grow by 1.8% this year with the rest of the world taking up the slack from China as the core growth driver Chinese demand will rise by just 0.7% in 2024 reflecting zinc’s exposure to the country’s struggling property sector is zinc’s most important end-use sector and China has been the world’s most active builder over the last decade ILZSG expects this year’s supply deficit to be followed by a healthy 148,000-ton surplus in 2025 due to higher zinc prices London Metal Exchange zinc has recovered a lot of ground since 2023 when it touched a three-year low of $2,215 per ton in May Three-month metal hit a year-to-date high of $3,209 last week The improved price environment should encourage restarts Swedish producer Boliden has already announced the reactivation of Tara in Ireland ILZSG expects global mined production to jump by 6.6% next year from this year’s distressed levels due to a combination of restarts and the delayed ramp-up of the Ozernoye mine in Russia Better concentrates availability is expected to feed a 3.9% year-on-year recovery in global refined zinc production and a return to supply surplus that assumes both a speedy reactivation of mothballed operations and no major unforeseen disruptions Within days of ILZSG finalizing its figures, Ivanhoe Mines announced a major downgrade of expected production from its new Kipushi mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo This year’s guidance has been cut from 100,000-140,000 tons to 50,000-70,000 tons of contained zinc due to a combination of operational teething problems and a lack of power As ILZSG’s revisions since April clearly demonstrate zinc’s supply dynamics are in a state of high flux right now and are likely to remain that way for some time yet (The opinions expressed here are those of the author Three men and one woman, aged between 33 and 57, have been arrested by the GNR on suspicion of having stolen 150 kilos of watermelon and 11 kilos of onions In a statement, the National Republican Guard (GNR) indicated that the four suspects of the theft of agricultural products in the town of Ervidel the GNR managed to locate and intercept a vehicle with four occupants having verified that they were the suspects of the theft The police investigations also made it possible to recover and seize the stolen material namely 150 kilos of watermelon and 11 kilos of onions and awareness-raising on agricultural and forestry farms with a view to preventing crime in general and theft in particular as well as possible situations of human trafficking Absolutely shocking crime and puts these petty riots taking place in the UK into perspective What's the street value of the stolen material For anyone plugged meaningfully into the global zinc market the price of zinc has — as of 11 December 2023 — fallen more than 26% since the start of the year with strong production and weak demand leading to a widening surplus 20 BC and its role in the production of brass roughly 60% of mined zinc goes towards galvanising steel against corrosion while some 13% is used in die-casting alloys It retains its role in brass production and is also used in chemicals and nutritional products the International Lead and Zinc Study Group’s (ILZSG) statistics committee reversed its April prediction that the global zinc market would register a minor supply deficit of 45,000 tonnes in 2023 It now expects supply will exceed usage by 248,000 tonnes before increasing to 367,000 tonnes in 2024 “After rising by only 0.1% to 12.43 million tonnes in 2023 world zinc mine production is forecast to increase by 3.9% to 12.91 million tonnes in 2024“ world zinc mine production is forecast to increase by 3.9% to 12.91 million tonnes in 2024,” the ILZSG said The 0.1% rise this year came largely from China where the 345,000-tonnes-per-year Ozerny mine in Buryatia recently began production ahead of a scheduled ramp-up next year substantial increases in Australia and the Russian Federation will be the main driver of the forecast rise in mine production Output is also predicted to increase in Bosnia and Herzegovina those predictions turn out in the uncertainty of real life remains to be seen When the price of zinc hit a three-year low of $2,215 in May it triggered a string of mine closures around the world with Macquarie Bank analysts at the time estimating a production wipeout of 300,000 tonnes annually It began with Sweden’s Boliden (STO:BOL) in June which curtailed the output of its Tara mine in Ireland Australia’s privately held Aurora Metals went into voluntary administration later the same month (not to be mistaken with listed uranium hopeful Aurora Energy Metals (ASX:1AE)) putting the Mungana and King Vol mines in Queensland on care and maintenance Aeris Resources (ASX:AIS) suspended operations at its Jaguar mine in Western Australia in August and Almina-Minas do Alentejo shuttered its Aljustrel mine in Portugal a month later lower zinc price and cost inflation it became obvious that the best value for our shareholders was to pause production at Jaguar,” Aeris Resources said in a statement on 2 August “Jaguar has a significant metal inventory across four deposits Leaving the metal in the ground until we have an optimised restart plan was clearly the better alternative than continuing a loss-making operation We will now commence feasibility work on restart options.” with a proposed shutdown by Netherlands-based Nyrstar (EBR:NYR) — a wholly owned subsidiary of trading and logistics company Trafigura — of two zinc mines in the US state of Tennessee at the end of November Nyrstar has not provided an update on the planned closure CBH Resources said it was no longer in a position to invest in the further development of its Rasp zinc “The Broken Hill Operations (BHO) will move to a staged closure during 2023/24 and fulfil the rehabilitation obligations beyond this period,” the company said “During this transition period CBH is actively seeking a new owner for the Rasp mine who can execute the potential development of the remanent [sic] Northern Main Lode and Centenary deposits.” Despite the expanding list of mine closures analysts at Edinburgh-based Wood Mackenzie noted at the start of November that zinc production had remained resilient in the face of low prices “Over the next few years we expect steady growth in zinc mine production — approximately 1.5Mt of new mine production is planned from 2023 to 2026,” Andrew Thomas Zinc smelter production is also set to recover carbon taxes and carbon abatement costs are expected to affect long-term margins Write to Oliver Gray at Mining.com.au Pacgold accelerates Alice River with new resource Pacgold (ASX:PGO) plans to fast track resource growth having now delivered a.. 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