Moreno's office is finalising a project that will allow water to be transported from Portugal.
Lusa contacted the Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Climate Action about this project, with a source from the press office responding that "relations with Spain must follow what is defined by the Albufeira convention".
"We were not informed by the APA [Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente] of any proposal from Spain", they added.
Speaking to the Spanish agency EFE, in Dubai, on the sidelines of COP28, Moreno stressed that water transfers could be “the solution”, noting that “you need to be very careful”.
For the regional president of Andalusia, “desalination, purification and water transfers are part of the strategy that must be carried out”.
Moreno also added that his office is already dealing with these processes “within Andalusia and some provinces”.
The government official noted that it is necessary to have a global strategy and place water as an absolute priority.
“I often see that the discourse about water does not exist, but without water, there is no life, there is no tourism, there is no agriculture or industry”, he stressed.
The prolongation of the drought could lead “to economic ruin”, he pointed out, adding that, behind this problem, are the farmers who had to abandon their farms.
The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of 2023 (COP28) has been taking place in Dubai since November 30 and will end on Tuesday.
How about transporting water to the Alentejo and Algarve through a water highway that has already been discussed but not taken seriously by the government. The north has more than enough water to send to the south where the vast majority of agriculture occurs that feeds all of Portugal. And here they're talking about sending it to Spain? Really?
By Ronald from Algarve on 11 Dec 2023, 22:08
Absolutely right Ronald. A waterway/pipeline from the north and desalination plants are the answers, and should have been delivered many years ago. Had there been any forward planning. Unfortunately, an ineffective, unmotivated, unimaginative government has only one answer for everything. More Taxes. A desalination plant near Albufeira is supposed to be delivered in 2026. Even if it is delivered by this date, it is already too late and means 3 more years of anxiety and stress for those living in the Algarve. We can only pray for much more rain this winter.
By Paolito from Algarve on 12 Dec 2023, 12:57
Spain pollutes the rivers that flow from there into Portugal.
How about at least balancing up, regarding that problem.
By Steve from Algarve on 12 Dec 2023, 15:10
As always the satisfaction by the politicians of the Portuguese critical water needs goes to second place!
By A.L.Fernandes from Other on 13 Dec 2023, 17:13