LISBON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Portugal's government plans to launch a long-delayed tender of lithium prospecting licenses in 2025 as it seeks to make the country a top European supplier of critical metals for the green transition, it said on Tuesday.
The center-right government, which took over in April, said that the international tender for lithium prospecting will target six areas in the north and center of the country.
The previous Socialist administration initially planned an auction in 2018, but concerns about the environmental and social impact of lithium mining have led to multiple delays to the auction.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Aislinn Laing)
((sergio.goncalves@thomsonreuters.com; +351213509204; Reuters Messaging: sergio.goncalves.reuters.com@reuters.net))