Greenpeace urges private banks not to finance Altri's plant in Galicia
Demonstration against Ence and the Altri project in Pontevedra, June 1, 2025. Credits: Greenpeace. Madrid –Environmental organisation Greenpeace has escalated its campaign against the proposed sustainable fibre factory by Portuguese company Altri in Galicia, urging UK private banks to withhold funding. This call coincides with ongoing public protests, including a large demonstration in Galicia on 1 June. Following FashionUnited's report in early May, subsequent to a symbolic protest against the Altri project held in Madrid outside the Congress of Deputies (organised by Greenpeace, Ecologistas en Acción, and the Ulloa Viva neighbourhood platform), protests returned to Galicia on Sunday, 1 June. These protests targeted the plant proposed for Palas de Rey. A ‘double march’ was organised from Pontevedra and Marín by the Association for the Defence of the Ria (APDR), the Platform for a Living Ulloa, and the Platform in Defence of the Ria d Arousa (Pedra). Participants included the Galician Inter-Union Confederation (CIG), the Community of Montes Vecinales en Man Común de Tameiga (CMVMC Tameiga), Ecologistas en Acción, and Greenpeace. Under the banner ‘Neither Ence in the ria, nor Altri in Ulloa’, thousands marched from Marín and Pontevedra around 12pm on 1 June, concluding at the Ence Energía y Celulosa pulp mill in Lourizán. The protest highlighted the 2016 Supreme Court endorsement of a 60-year extension for Ence's plant, granted by Mariano Rajoy's government. A manifesto called for ‘recovering Galicia’s future’ by removing Ence from the ria and halting the Altri project. While opposing both the Ence plant and the proposed Altri facility, the Altri project became the main focus after a year of opposition. The Xunta de Galicia selected Altri’s proposal via a public tender. Despite aiming to produce sustainable, cellulose-based fibres, Altri’s Greenfiber subsidiary (75 percent Altri, 25 percent Greenalia) faced immediate opposition. On 26 May 2024, an estimated 20,000 people protested in Palas de Rey. This initial protest was followed by various campaigns, demonstrations, and rallies, including a significant demonstration in Santiago de Compostela in December. ‘If the Xunta and Altri believed opposition would fade, it has been shown that Galician civil society will not allow its natural environment, primary industries, and heritage to be destroyed,’ stated Greenpeace Galicia coordinator Manoel Santos. ‘We have been fighting for over a year and will continue until this outrage is dismissed. Whether through public protests or legal action, this project will not proceed as it is unjust.’ Ahead of the 1 June march, Greenpeace urged private banks not to finance Altri's billion-euro pulp mill project. Altri sought 250 euros million in public funding, notably from EU ‘Next Generation’ funds, despite missing recent Descarbonisation Perte grants. The remaining 750 million euros was to be secured through other means. Greenpeace aims to block both public and private funding. Demonstration against Ence and the Altri project in Pontevedra, June 1, 2025. Credits: CIG. ## Blocking funds, public and private Greenpeace has called on the UK government to deny public funding and for banks to refuse financing for the plant. Teaming up with the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) and BankTrack, Greenpeace aims to influence bank lending policies. BankTrack's ‘Dodgy Deal’ files, a public list, pressure banks against funding projects deemed ‘harmful’. Project Gama, Altri’s Greenfiber plant, was recently added to this list. ‘Project Gama in a eucalyptus monoculture-saturated region would worsen biodiversity loss, ecological collapse, and climate change vulnerability,’ BankTrack states. ‘It threatens the Ulla River basin's biodiversity, a Natura 2000 area, and its endemic species, along with cultural heritage like the Camino de Santiago, and would industrialise a rural area. Funding should be withheld due to the unmitigated risks.’ ‘Given concerns this harmful project may proceed despite local resistance, BankTrack's profile ensures potential funders are aware of the negative consequences on health, ecosystems, economy, and livelihoods,’ Greenpeace argues. The file highlights biodiversity impacts, high water consumption exceeding Lugo province’s population, and increased eucalyptus plantations risking wildfires. Greenfiber disputes these claims on its website. Greenpeace concludes that ‘Altri's project is a reputational risk no responsible bank or investor can ignore’. Demonstration against Ence and the Altri project in Pontevedra, June 1, 2025. Credits: Greenpeace. Demonstration against Ence and the Altri project in Pontevedra, June 1, 2025. Credits: Greenpeace. In summaryGreenpeace intensifies pressure against the Altri project in Galicia, urging private banks not to finance the construction of its sustainable fibre factory.Thousands of people demonstrated in Galicia against the Altri project and the Ence plan
Madrid –Environmental organisation Greenpeace has escalated its campaign against the proposed sustainable fibre factory by Portuguese company Altri in Galicia, urging UK private banks to withhold funding. This call coincides with ongoing public protests, including a large demonstration in Galicia on 1 June.
Following FashionUnited's report in early May, subsequent to a symbolic protest against the Altri project held in Madrid outside the Congress of Deputies (organised by Greenpeace, Ecologistas en Acción, and the Ulloa Viva neighbourhood platform), protests returned to Galicia on Sunday, 1 June. These protests targeted the plant proposed for Palas de Rey. A ‘double march’ was organised from Pontevedra and Marín by the Association for the Defence of the Ria (APDR), the Platform for a Living Ulloa, and the Platform in Defence of the Ria d Arousa (Pedra). Participants included the Galician Inter-Union Confederation (CIG), the Community of Montes Vecinales en Man Común de Tameiga (CMVMC Tameiga), Ecologistas en Acción, and Greenpeace.
Under the banner ‘Neither Ence in the ria, nor Altri in Ulloa’, thousands marched from Marín and Pontevedra around 12pm on 1 June, concluding at the Ence Energía y Celulosa pulp mill in Lourizán. The protest highlighted the 2016 Supreme Court endorsement of a 60-year extension for Ence's plant, granted by Mariano Rajoy's government. A manifesto called for ‘recovering Galicia’s future’ by removing Ence from the ria and halting the Altri project.
While opposing both the Ence plant and the proposed Altri facility, the Altri project became the main focus after a year of opposition. The Xunta de Galicia selected Altri’s proposal via a public tender. Despite aiming to produce sustainable, cellulose-based fibres, Altri’s Greenfiber subsidiary (75 percent Altri, 25 percent Greenalia) faced immediate opposition. On 26 May 2024, an estimated 20,000 people protested in Palas de Rey. This initial protest was followed by various campaigns, demonstrations, and rallies, including a significant demonstration in Santiago de Compostela in December.
‘If the Xunta and Altri believed opposition would fade, it has been shown that Galician civil society will not allow its natural environment, primary industries, and heritage to be destroyed,’ stated Greenpeace Galicia coordinator Manoel Santos. ‘We have been fighting for over a year and will continue until this outrage is dismissed. Whether through public protests or legal action, this project will not proceed as it is unjust.’
Ahead of the 1 June march, Greenpeace urged private banks not to finance Altri's billion-euro pulp mill project. Altri sought 250 euros million in public funding, notably from EU ‘Next Generation’ funds, despite missing recent Descarbonisation Perte grants. The remaining 750 million euros was to be secured through other means. Greenpeace aims to block both public and private funding.
Greenpeace has called on the UK government to deny public funding and for banks to refuse financing for the plant. Teaming up with the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) and BankTrack, Greenpeace aims to influence bank lending policies. BankTrack's ‘Dodgy Deal’ files, a public list, pressure banks against funding projects deemed ‘harmful’. Project Gama, Altri’s Greenfiber plant, was recently added to this list.
‘Project Gama in a eucalyptus monoculture-saturated region would worsen biodiversity loss, ecological collapse, and climate change vulnerability,’ BankTrack states. ‘It threatens the Ulla River basin's biodiversity, a Natura 2000 area, and its endemic species, along with cultural heritage like the Camino de Santiago, and would industrialise a rural area. Funding should be withheld due to the unmitigated risks.’
‘Given concerns this harmful project may proceed despite local resistance, BankTrack's profile ensures potential funders are aware of the negative consequences on health, ecosystems, economy, and livelihoods,’ Greenpeace argues. The file highlights biodiversity impacts, high water consumption exceeding Lugo province’s population, and increased eucalyptus plantations risking wildfires. Greenfiber disputes these claims on its website. Greenpeace concludes that ‘Altri's project is a reputational risk no responsible bank or investor can ignore’.
- Greenpeace intensifies pressure against the Altri project in Galicia, urging private banks not to finance the construction of its sustainable fibre factory.
- Thousands of people demonstrated in Galicia against the Altri project and the Ence plant, demanding the halting of the Altri project and the departure of Ence from Galicia.
- Greenpeace, along with other organisations, seeks to block public and private funding for the Altri project, arguing its negative impacts on biodiversity, water consumption, and cultural heritage.
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