Portugal: Sines facility in Portuguese scandal also destroyed natural habitats

The Sines data center campus in Portugal involved in the Portuguese government corruption scandal is reported to have also destroyed natural habitats protected by Portuguese and European legislation.

A report by the INCF revealed Start Campus built its first data center on the site in Sines on top of a wetland area identified as a priority habitat. ICNF had also identified two other ponds that were inside the Area, which would be affected by subsequent phases.  Start had also not met the conditions to which the agency allowed these projects to proceed.

Biologist Rita Alcazar, from the League for the Protection of Nature, said, “The initial phase is already under construction. At the moment, if you look at the images available on Google, the data center has already been built on top of one of the temporary ponds. What I think is important to note is that the Portuguese State has a legal obligation to protect these habitats. There is a legal obligation.”

Observador also alleged that Start directors were influencing the government and President Costa. Diogo Lacerda Machado, a businessman and friend of Costa’s, was hired as a consultant for the project, and the project allegedly exerted influence through Costa’s chief of staff, Vítor Escária.