Sign the petition

To the President of the Assembleia da República,

We, the undersigned citizens, exercising the right of petition[1], set out the following and make the following requests.

What is at stake

On 19 June 2026, Guarda's Câmara Municipal recognised the municipal public interest of a plant producing biomethane and organic fertilisers, proposed by Biometano Cosmos, Unipessoal Lda., in the parish union of Avelãs de Ambom and Rocamondo[2]. The site, about 50,000 m² of forest and farmland, lies partly in the National Ecological Reserve and has a "High" and "Very High" fire hazard rating[2]. According to our movement's measurements, the parcel boundary is about 352 m from an area local residents know as a water extraction zone and 370 m from Quinta Monte Frio[3][4].

About the plant itself, the public information amounts to "non-hazardous organic waste". Its capacity, the tonnage and origin of the waste, and the number of trucks are not known[2]. At a council meeting the mayor said he does not know who owns the company[2] and, in August, that the Câmara has no further information[5]. As of 16 October 2026 no environmental impact assessment and no public consultation had been found for this project[6].

We are not against progress or renewable energy. We ask that the risks to the air, the water, the soil, the roads and life in our villages be assessed seriously before any decision is taken, not afterwards.

What we ask of the Assembleia da República

1. Environmental impact assessment and public consultation. That it recommend to the Government that this plant may only be licensed after a full environmental impact assessment, with public consultation, whatever capacity is eventually declared.
2. Transparency. That it recommend to the bodies involved (the Portuguese Environment Agency, CCDR Centro and Guarda's Câmara Municipal) the disclosure of every document in the process: the identity of the company and of whoever owns it, the capacity, the types, quantities and origin of the waste, the truck traffic, the exact location of the parcel and where the digestate will go.
3. A minimum distance in law. That it adopt a mandatory minimum distance between biogas and biomethane plants and homes, water abstractions and watercourses, as already exists or is being prepared in other countries. In France these plants must be more than 200 m from third-party homes[7]; in Castilla-La Mancha a draft decree proposes 2,000 m from residential areas and 250 m from groundwater abstractions[8].

Respectfully submitted.

To the President of Guarda's Câmara Municipal, To the President of Guarda's Assembleia Municipal,

We, the undersigned citizens, exercising the right of petition[1], set out the following and make the following requests.

What is at stake

On 19 June 2026 the Câmara Municipal approved the recognition of the municipal public interest of a plant producing biomethane and organic fertilisers, proposed by Biometano Cosmos, Unipessoal Lda., in the parish union of Avelãs de Ambom and Rocamondo, and sent it to the Assembleia Municipal[2]. According to the mayor, the Assembleia Municipal issued a "positive opinion of intent"[9].

The proposal itself acknowledges that the site, about 50,000 m² of forest and farmland, lies partly in the National Ecological Reserve, has a "High" and "Very High" fire hazard rating and can only host this plant with the Status of Relevant Municipal Interest[2]. According to our movement's measurements, the parcel boundary is about 352 m from an area local residents know as a water extraction zone and 370 m from Quinta Monte Frio[3][4].

The decision was taken without the capacity, the tonnage and origin of the waste or the number of trucks being known[2]. Asked who owns the company, the mayor answered that he does not know[2]. The company's registry certificate was requested three times at council meetings[10] and, in August, the mayor stated that the Câmara has no further information[5]. As of 16 October 2026 no environmental impact assessment and no public consultation had been found for this project[6].

We are not against progress or renewable energy. A region's development is also measured by the quality of life it gives the people who live there. We want the risks studied before any decision and no legitimate concern ignored.

What we ask

1. Revocation. That the Câmara Municipal revoke its decision of 19 June 2026 recognising the municipal public interest of this plant, that the Assembleia Municipal revoke the favourable position it took, and that neither body grant the Status of Relevant Municipal Interest without the information and assessment requested below.
2. Every document, public. That the Câmara publish the annexes to Proposal VPCM no. 10/2026 and every document it has received about the project: the registry certificate and the identity of whoever owns the company, the capacity, the types, quantities and origin of the waste, the truck traffic and planned route, the exact location of the parcel and where the digestate will go.
3. Assessment before deciding. That the municipality issue no favourable opinion, prior information or licence before a full environmental impact assessment with public consultation.
4. A minimum distance. That the municipality adopt, in its Municipal Master Plan or in a regulation, a minimum distance between plants of this kind and homes, water abstractions and watercourses. In France these plants must be more than 200 m from third-party homes[7].
5. Listen to the people. That the Câmara and the Assembleia Municipal hold the public debate already requested at a council meeting[5], with information sessions in Avelãs de Ambom and in Pêra do Moço.

Respectfully submitted.