Lorraine Williamson
More than a thousand demonstrators took to the streets of Chipiona on Sunday in a vocal stand against the planned dumping of mining waste into the Guadalquivir River.
The protest, backed by multiple towns across the region, is the latest flashpoint in a simmering row over the environmental risks posed by the reopening of the Aznalcóllar mine in Seville province.
Organised by environmental groups and supported by local mayors and residents from five municipalities along the Guadalquivir – Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Coria del Río, Chipiona, Gelves and Trebujena – the protest underscored growing public alarm over the Andalusian government’s handling of mining permits. Demonstrators are demanding an immediate halt to discharges and an independent scientific review of the potential consequences.
“People, not profit”: mayors speak out
Leading the charge was Modesto González, mayor of Coria del Río, who accused the Junta de Andalucía of prioritising corporate interests – particularly those of Minorbis-Grupo México – over the wellbeing of local communities. “We’re not against progress,” he told protesters, “but it cannot come at the expense of our river, our health, or our future.”
The plan to restart mining operations at Aznalcóllar – a site notorious for one of Spain’s worst environmental disasters in 1998 – has reignited fears that the river’s delicate ecosystem is once again under threat. That catastrophe, caused by a toxic spill from a nearby reservoir, still casts a long shadow over the region.
Junta defends project, but scientists raise red flags
In response, the Junta de Andalucía insists that any wastewater discharged into the Guadalquivir will be fully treated and compliant with environmental regulations. The Ministry for Industry, Energy and Mining maintains that the permit for the Aznalcóllar project meets all legal and ecological requirements.
Yet scientists and ecologists are not convinced. Several studies have already flagged high levels of heavy metals – including lead, selenium and chromium – in the river. Experts fear that renewed mining activity could worsen the contamination and jeopardise thousands of jobs in agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
“We won’t be a dumping ground”
For campaigners like Rafael Ruiz of the citizen platform Salvemos el Guadalquivir, the stakes are clear. “We have a right to transparent information and an independent environmental review,” he said. “We cannot allow this region to become a dumping ground for industrial waste, just because the EU sees it as a source of valuable metals.”
Ruiz and other activists argue that the potential fallout could devastate local industries, many of which depend on the river’s health. From rice paddies and vineyards to fishing fleets and beach tourism, the economic risks of pollution are hard to ignore.
Growing pressure, but no political shift – yet
Despite the size and scale of the protest, the Junta has yet to budge. As tensions rise and political pressure mounts, protesters are vowing to continue their campaign until the discharges are suspended and credible scientific assessments are made public.
Whether the government holds the line or bows to public demand remains to be seen – but what is clear is that in Chipiona and beyond, the fight for the Guadalquivir is far from over.
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