Solar panel factory near Aveiro

It might seem from my recent posts on IKEA and Pescanova that the Portuguese government use the classification "Project of National Importance" (PIN) as a way to circumvent any environmental concern. Although in JdN 2007-01-05 there is an article about a solar panel factory that has attained PIN status. Although there seem to be a hickup since a new conference centre (Exponor) also has PIN status for an overlapping area. The article is a bit confusing. They talk about Matosinhos and Aveiro. But I think the factory is supposed to be in Aveiro. There already is an Exponor in Leca da Palmeira (which is close to Matosinhos).

The spin of the article is that the solar panel factory threatens the conference centre (sic!). I guess Portugal has its fair share of conference centres already. A solar panel factory, which is described as high tech, is certainly much more needed in Portugal. Not only for the high tech but for the positive environmental impact of using solar energy.

IKEA is one of the worst in Portugal in 2006

The Portuguese environment NGO Quercus has assigned IKEA as a worst case on their annual list of best and worst events in 2006. The list (In Portuguese). Or rather construction of a Swedwood factor in a environmentally protected area. Declassified by state or local government without much analysis, or so it seems.

The snippet which includes IKEA:
"Avanço de obras públicas e privadas em áreas classificadas
Ao longo de 2006 inúmeros foram os projectos públicos e privados viabilizados em áreas classificadas. Fazendo uso de instrumentos como as declarações de imprescindível utilidade pública e as classificações como projectos PIN (Potencial Interesse Nacional), o governo revelou ter como orientação base a viabilização de qualquer investimento mesmo que localizado em zona classificada como Reserva Ecológica Nacional (REN), Reserva Agrícola Nacional (RAN), povoamento de sobreiros e azinheiras ou Rede Natura 2000, sem olhar à existência de alternativas de localização.

Este tem sido o caso do IC9 (sublanço Carregueiros/Tomar), da fábrica do IKEA em Paços de Ferreira, das plataformas logísticas e da barragem do Sabor."

In short:
The Portuguese government has been very eager to classify many projects as being of national importance thus aiming to override several area protections such as "national ecological reserves", "national agricultural reserve" and Natura 2000 without even looking at alternatives (such as building on other sites). Natura 2000 is a very strict EU classification that usually has strong impact on making nearby large installations and has to be considered when making an Environmental Impact Assessment.

One of these instances is the construction of a Swedwood factory in Paços de Ferreira between Braga and Porto. Swedwood is a subsidy of IKEA.

IKEA is starting to build an image as being environmentally benign, but by this decision one can always wonder how serious about this they really are...