Story perspectives

Protesters Demand Iberpotash Mine Closure After EU Ruling

6/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Up to a thousand protesters gathered in Callús, Bages county from 17 to 19 April demanding Iberpotash’s salt mines be closed.
The mines have created large sodium-chloride spoil heaps that dissolve into brine, contaminating groundwater, springs, streams and the Llobregat River that supplies Barcelona.
The European Commission opened infringement proceedings in 2014 and ruled in 2017 that Spain gave illegal state aid to Iberpotash, ordering multimillion-euro recovery.

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Story summary

Up to a thousand protesters gathered in Callús, Bages county from 17 to 19 April demanding Iberpotash’s salt mines be closed.
The mines have created large sodium-chloride spoil heaps that dissolve into brine, contaminating groundwater, springs, streams and the Llobregat River that supplies Barcelona.
The European Commission opened infringement proceedings in 2014 and ruled in 2017 that Spain gave illegal state aid to Iberpotash, ordering multimillion-euro recovery.