During the hearing by the Minister for the Environment and
Climate Action, in the Budget and Finance, Economy, Public Works, Planning and
Housing and Environment and Energy committees, Duarte Cordeiro announced that
the Government had identified “other territories in the country [ affected by
the drought], namely, the Alentejo coast”, area where the Government intends to
implement, next year, a water efficiency plan – with an investment of €57
million already underway in the interconnection of the Alqueva with the Sado
supply system and Mira.
In addition to this plan, Duarte Cordeiro said that the
“possibility of the existence of a desalination plant for the Alentejo coast
area” is being studied, which will serve to respond “to the identified needs”
and which are under pressure from the tourism sector, industrial production and
agricultural. As for financing, the official said that the possibility of
resorting to private or community investment is on the table.
It will be in the Algarve that mainland Portugal will
inaugurate the first desalination plant that will serve as a complement to the
current Multi-municipal Water Supply System for human consumption in the
region.
Scheduled to be completed in March 2026, the work, valued at
€45 million, is currently in the development phase of the necessary studies to
be able to put the contract out to tender.