In a statement, the APA states that regarding concerns related to the impacts of brine rejection on marine ecosystems, the assessment “took into account the results of the study of the spatial influence of the dispersion of saline effluent in the sea presented”.

According to the APA, despite considering that the impacts “are not significant, a set of requirements were incorporated into the decision to safeguard these possible impacts, as well as the development of possible additional minimisation measures”.

The desalination station project to be installed in Albufeira, in the district of Faro, is part of the Algarve Regional Water Efficiency Plan, being one of the investments in component C09 – Water Management of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), specified the APA.

Public concerns

The environmental impact assessment procedure took into account the concerns expressed during public consultation, “which coincide with the main themes addressed and considered in the assessment and, in general, are reflected in the set of established conditions”, he added.

According to the APA, given that the environmental impact assessment procedure took place in the preliminary study phase, “a second assessment will occur in the execution project phase, with a view to verifying the environmental compliance of the execution project with the DIA now issued.”

Therefore, licensing and the beginning of construction of the desalination plant can only occur after issuing the environmental compliance decision for the implementation project, he clarified.

The decision resulted from the evaluation carried out by the evaluation committee set up for this purpose, coordinated by APA and which included representatives from various bodies, namely the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, the National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, the General Directorate of Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and the Baeta Neves Center for Applied Ecology of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia.

Combating drought

The construction of a desalination plant in Albufeira, whose base value is 90 million euros, is one of the response measures to the drought affecting the southern region of Portugal, with the equipment expected to have an initial capacity to convert seawater in the potable capacity of 16 cubic hectometres.

According to Águas do Algarve, the company responsible for supplying water in the region, which is responsible for managing infrastructure such as dams or Wastewater Treatment Plants, the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

The year 2026 is the year established as the limit for the use of PRR funds, a support program created by the European Union to revitalise the economy after the covid-19 pandemic.

Related article: