The Regional Government of the Azores has received a formal request for the attribution of prospecting and research rights for hydromineral resources in an area located in the parish of Furnas, within the municipality of Povoação, on the island of São Miguel. The application was submitted by the company HU AZORES, Lda., and made public through an official order dated February 19, 2026, issued by the Regional Director for Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness.

According to the public notice issued under the applicable legal framework, the company seeks authorization to conduct exploratory studies for hydromineral resources across approximately 40 hectares in the area known as Ribeira dos Tambores, in Furnas. The process is being carried out under the provisions of Decree-Law No. 86/90 of March 16, which establishes the regulatory framework for the discovery and use of hydromineral resources, as well as Regional Legislative Decree No. 21/2012/A of May 9, which adapts those rules to the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Under the legislation currently in force, the prospecting and research phase represents only the initial stage of a longer process. Its purpose is to identify and characterize possible hydromineral resources—such as natural mineral waters or mineral-industrial waters—that may exist within a defined territory. The granting of these rights does not constitute authorization for commercial extraction. Rather, it enables the undertaking of geological, hydrogeological, and technical studiesto evaluate the true potential of the resource.

The area under consideration is delineated by a polygon defined through geographic coordinates within the regional reference system. In the Azores, hydromineral resources belong to the public domain of the autonomous region, and their discovery and eventual use are subject to authorization by the Regional Government. The legal regime governing these activities is outlined in Regional Legislative Decree No. 21/2012/A, which establishes the rules for prospecting, research, and possible exploitation of geological resources throughout the archipelago.

Furnas itself is one of the most distinctive landscapes in the Azores. Known for its intense hydrothermal and geothermal activity—manifested in steaming fumaroles, mineral springs, and the slow subterranean pulse of volcanic energy—the valley has long been associated with the use of natural mineral waters and geothermal resources. Should the exploratory studies confirm the presence of hydromineral deposits of economic value, a subsequent stage of the process could involve submitting a formal concession request for their exploitation. Such a request would then be subject to rigorous technical and environmental evaluation by the competent regional authorities.

In Diário dos Açores–Paulo Viveiros, director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.