REG - Savannah Resources - Dismissal of Legal Claim
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RNS Number : 1131E Savannah Resources PLC 21 October 2025
21 October 2025
Savannah Resources Plc
(AIM: SAV) ('Savannah', or the 'Company')
Dismissal of Legal Claim
Dismissal of another legal claim made in relation to the Project
Savannah Resources Plc, the developer of the Barroso Lithium Project in
Portugal, a 'Strategic Project' under the European Critical Raw Materials Act
and Europe's largest spodumene lithium deposit (the 'Project'), is pleased to
provide an update on another positive legal judgement made recently in
relation to the Project.
The Administrative and Tax Court of Mirandela has dismissed the case brought
by the Parish Council of Covas do Barroso (the 'Parish Council') in April 2023
(see 5 April 2023 RNS) against the Ministry of Environment, in which Savannah
was named as a counterparty. The claim aimed to have the 2016 Barroso Mine
Concession Agreement (the 'Concession') annulled.
The Court's ruling confirms unequivocal validity and conformity of the
Concession. The claimant has the option to appeal to the Central
Administrative Court.
This decision represents the eighth consecutive positive judgment for Savannah
out of eight total decisions made across initial court rulings, appeals and
injunctions (See Table 1 for further details).
There are now four 1 (#_ftn1) remaining ongoing court cases in relation to
the Project (see table 3 below for further details). None of the four cases
affect Savannah's progress with the Project. In two of the cases, the legal
opinions state that they are, like the cases which have been dismissed,
without merit.
The third case relates to disputed borders on small packages of land (8
hectares in total) purchased by Savannah from private landowners ('Land
Borders Dispute', see table 3 below for further details and 25 July 2022 RNS).
The impact of a possible ruling against the landowners involved would be
likely limited to minor revisions to the borders of the land involved. If this
occurred, it would have no material impact on the development of the Project.
The remaining case is a claim submitted by Savannah against the Covas Baldios,
where Savannah requests acknowledgement that it has been fulfilling all its
legal and contractual obligations in the lease of a portion of the Baldios
property, located in the NOA area, currently under exploitation.
Savannah's Chief Executive Officer, Emanuel Proença, said, "We welcome the
clear judgement made by the Court in this case, which reiterates the strong
legal framework which underpins our Project. It is a shame that we have to go
through these baseless cases, which are consistently brought by the same small
group of claimants, which, we believe, do not represent the views of all local
stakeholders. However, we must accept the right to opposition, even when it is
used inappropriately, and could potentially result in legal consequences for
the claimants. It is good to see that with each decision the confirmation of
the merits of our team's work to date is further reinforced.
"As stated previously, we know that we face strong scrutiny, and for that
reason we are even more diligent in our efforts, which is in itself a
reassurance for all our shareholders. Savannah continues to advance the
Project with confidence and determination, and with a firm commitment to the
strict legality of all processes and operations it carries out."
Additional information
Table 1: Summary of rulings in legal cases brought in Portugal in relation to
the Project
Case Case Summary Plaintiff Defendants Counter Sentence/Ruling (Court)
Interested
Parties
C-100 Mining License Amendments (Commenced Jan 2022) - Lawsuit 39/22.5BEMDL Claim aimed to declare null the administrative acts regarding the Exploitation Parish of Covas do Barroso Ministry of Economy Savannah Dismissed (Feb 2023) due to lack of passive procedural illegitimacy (Fiscal
of the "Mina do Barroso" Project, signed in 2016, invoking administrative and Administrative Court of Mirandela).
irregularities performed by the Ministry of Economy.
C-100 Mining License Amendments (Commenced Apr 2023) - Lawsuit 132/23.7BEMDL Repetition of the above case Parish of Covas do Barroso Ministry of Environment Savannah Dismissed (Sep 2025) as Court agreed with the legal arguments presented by the
Ministry and the Company (Fiscal and Administrative Court of Mirandela).
Land Borders Dispute (Commenced Jun 2022) - Injunction presented in Jan 2024 Injunction presented by the Covas Baldios, requesting the Court to forbid Baldios of Covas do Barroso Savannah and 6 other private owners N/A Injunction not approved (Feb 2024). The Court did not attend to the request
(Lawsuit nº 1031/225T8VRL) Savannah to work in areas under dispute. presented by the Covas Baldios and did not forbid Savannah to work in the
disputed areas (Vila Real Judicial Court).
Injunction against the Temporary Land Easement (Commenced in Feb 2025) - Claim aimed to declare null the administrative acts regarding the Temporary 3 Private Landowners Ministry for the Environment Savannah, DGEG, Covas Parish, Baldios and the other private owners in the Case dismissed (Sep 2025) due to the supervening futility of the dispute as
Lawsuit 36/25.9BEMDL Land Easement, made official by the Government on 6 Dec 2024 Temporary Easement Process the field work had already been completed (Fiscal and Administrative Court of
Mirandela).
Contestation of the Grounded Resolution that lifted the works suspension under Claim aimed to revoke the Grounded Resolution issued by the Portuguese 3 Private Landowners Ministry for the Environment Savannah, DGEG, Covas Parish, Baldios and the other private owners in the Contestation rejected (Apr 2025) by the court which considered the request
the Land Easement (Commenced in Mar 2025) Government and also intended to sanction Savannah for allegedly executing Temporary Easement Process presented by the plaintiffs to be unfounded (Fiscal and Administrative Court
works during the suspension period of Mirandela).
- Lawsuit 36/25.9BEMDL
Appeal against ruling given in Lawsuit 36/25.9BEMDL (see above) Appeal against ruling given in Apr 2025 (see above) 3 Private Landowners Ministry for the Environment Savannah, DGEG, Covas Parish, Baldios and the other private owners in the Appeal rejected (Sep 2025). (Central Administrative Fiscal Court).
Temporary Easement Process
Criminal complaint for assault to a former Savannah employee (Commenced Claim aimed to condemn Mr. Nelson Gomes, President of Associação Unidos em Former Savannah employee Mr. Nelson Gomes Mr. Nelson Gomes found guilty of the charges presented and sentenced to pay a
December 2021) - Lawsuit 81-21.3GABTC Defesa de Covas do Barroso, for assault against a former Savannah employee fine, compensation to Savannah's former employee, and court costs (May 2025).
(Vila Real Judicial Court).
Defamation Mr. Nelson Gomes accused Savannah of defamation in relation to the accusation Mr. Nelson Gomes Savannah N/A Case dismissed following the ruling against Mr. Gomes in Lawsuit 81-21.3GABT
made against him in Lawsuit 81-21.3GABT (see above) (May 2025). (Vila Real Judicial Court).
Table 2: Summary of a case submitted to the Compliance Committee of the
UNECE's Aarhus Convention (the 'Convention') on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental
Matters in relation to the Barroso lithium mining project located in the
municipality of Boticas
Case Case Summary Communicant The Party Concerned Observers Findings, Recommendations & Responses
Alleged failure of Portugal to comply with its obligations under certain The communicant alleged that access to information, public participation in The Spanish non-profit organisation, Fundação Montescola Portuguese Government Municipal Council of Boticas, MiningWatch Portugal, Associação Unidos em The Convention's Compliance Committee found that the Party concerned had
articles of the UNECE's Aarhus Convention in relation to the Barroso lithium decision-making and access to justice in Environmental Matters under articles Defesa de Covas do Barroso failed to comply with certain articles of the Aarhus Convention and
mining project (Commenced May 2021) 4 (1), (2), (3)(c) and (7) and 6 (3) and (4) of the Aarhus Convention and recommended that it undertake the necessary legislative, regulatory,
legislation has not been respected. The violations included actions by administrative and practical measures to ensure its compliance with the
organisations such as the APA, DGEG, CCDR-N, and Savannah Convention going forward (Aug 2025). There were no recommendations made
specifically in relation to the Barroso Lithium Project.
Responses from Portuguese entities:
Portugal's Environment Agency (APA) published a response
(https://apambiente.pt/destaque2/apa-esclarece-acesso-informacao-no-processo-aia)
in which it stated, "Overall, this project had the longest public consultation
period, longer than any other project subject to EIA, with 60 + 20 working
days, totaling 114 calendar days of Public Consultation in the same procedure.
(…)compliance with the EIA procedure and much less with the Public
Consultation is not at issue, but merely a divergent interpretation by the
Convention Compliance Committee regarding the application of Article 4,
paragraph 3, of the Aarhus Convention and Article 6 of Law No. 26/2016, of 22
August [of Portugal]."
The North Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N)
also published a response (https://www.ccdr-n.pt/noticia/home/esclarecimento)
in which it stated, "CCDR NORTE reaffirms that it has always acted
transparently, rigorously, and in compliance with national legislation,
respecting its responsibilities within the scope of the Environmental Impact
Assessment procedure. Its actions have been validated by CADA's (the
Commission for Access to Administrative Documents) opinions and are within the
applicable legal limits".
Table 3: Summary of current legal claims brought in Portugal relating to the
Project
Case Case Summary Plaintiff Defendants Counter Status (Court)
Interested
Parties
Land Borders Dispute (Commenced Jun 2022) - Lawsuit 1031/22.5T8VRL Claim aims to challenge the registration of certain areas and limits of Baldios of Covas do Barroso Savannah and 6 other private owners N/A Waiting for a Preliminary Hearing (Vila Real Judicial Court)
certain parcels of 6 land properties in the C-100 licence area
Lease Dispute (Commenced Feb 2025) - Lawsuit 293/25.0T8CHV Claim submitted by Savannah to confirm that it has been fulfilling all its Savannah Baldios of Covas do Barroso N/A Preliminary hearing scheduled for 10 Dec 2025 (Vila Real Judicial Court).
legal and contractual obligations under the lease agreement entered into with
the Baldios of Covas do Barroso.
Administrative Claim Against the favorable DIA (Commenced Sep 2023) - Lawsuit Claim aims to declare null the administrative acts regarding the Declaration Parish of Covas do Barroso Ministry of Environment and APA Savannah All the Defendants, including Savannah, have now lodged their defences, and
302-23.8BEMDL of Impact Assessment, issued by APA on 30 May 2023 the case is awaiting further proceedings (Fiscal and Administrative Court of
Mirandela).
Based on the opinion from our legal advisers this case is without merit.
Administrative Claims against the Temporary Land Easement (Commenced in Feb Claim aims to declare null the administrative acts regarding the Temporary 3 different lawsuits, with the same arguments, presented by: Ministry for the Environment Savannah, DGEG, Covas Parish, Baldios and the other private owners in the After dismissing the injunction, the Court agreed to collate the 3 lawsuits
2025) - Lawsuits 94/25.69BEMDL / 95/25.69BEMDL / 96/25.69BEMDL Land Easement, made official by the Government on 6 December 2024
Temporary Easement Process into a single case. Preliminary Hearing awaited (Fiscal and Administrative
1. 3 Private Landowners Court of Mirandela).
2. Baldios of Covas do Barroso
3. Parish of Covas do Barroso Based on the opinion from our legal advisers this case is without merit.
Savannah - Enabling Europe's energy transition.
**ENDS**
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For further information please visit www.savannahresources
(http://www.savannahresources) .com or contact:
Savannah Resources PLC Tel: +44 20 7117 2489
Emanuel Proença, CEO
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Advisor & Broker) Tel: +44 20 3470 0470
David Hignell/ Charlie Bouverat (Corporate Finance)
Grant Barker/Abigail Wayne (Sales & Broking)
Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker) Tel: +44 20 7523 8000
James Asensio / Charlie Hammond (Corporate Broking)
Ben Knott (Sales)
Media Relations
Savannah Resources: Antonio Neves Costa, Communications Manager Tel: +351 962 678 912
About Savannah
Savannah Resources is a mineral resource development company and the sole
owner of the Barroso Lithium Project (the 'Project') in northern Portugal. The
Project is the largest battery grade spodumene lithium resource outlined to
date in Europe and was classified as a 'Strategic Project' by the European
Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act in March 2025.
Through the Project, Savannah will help Portugal to play an important role in
providing a long-term, locally sourced, lithium raw material supply for
Europe's lithium battery value chain. Once in operation the Project will
produce enough lithium (contained in c.190,000tpa of spodumene concentrate)
for approximately half a million vehicle battery packs per year and hence make
a significant contribution towards the European Commission's Critical Raw
Material Act goal of a minimum 10% of European endogenous lithium production
from 2030.
Savannah is focused on the responsible development and operation of the
Barroso Lithium Project so that its impact on the environment is minimised and
the socio-economic benefits that it can bring to all its stakeholders are
maximised.
The Company is listed and regulated on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative
Investment Market (AIM) and trades under the ticker "SAV".
1 (#_ftnref1) Operation Influencer is not one of these cases as neither
Savannah nor any of its directors or employees are defendants (termed as
"arguidos" in Portuguese) in this investigation which was initiated by the
Public Prosecutor's Office in 2023.
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