Algarve Desalination Project Receives Conditional Approval Amid Environmental Concerns
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Teh Portuguese Habitat Agency (APA) has issued a conditional green light for the construction of a new desalination plant in the Algarve region, a project intended to bolster water security but facing critically important opposition from environmental groups and other stakeholders. The facility, to be operated by Águas do Algarve and located in Quinta da Ponte, near Albufeira and Olhos de Água, represents a €108 million investment funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and is slated for completion by the end of 2026.
A Long-Awaited Decision, Heavily Conditioned
The approval, initially announced by Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho in early November during a parliamentary debate on the 2026 State Budget, is not without significant caveats. despite the agency’s favorable decision, the APA has imposed over one hundred mitigation and monitoring requirements covering all phases of the project – from pre-construction through operation and eventual decommissioning. These stipulations include strict limits on noise emissions and stringent waste management protocols.
“The more than a hundred additional requirements now imposed are proof that the project, as presented, did not offer all environmental guarantees,” stated a public policy analyst at the Zero association. The conditions reflect ongoing concerns about the project’s potential impact on the sensitive coastal ecosystem.
Technical Adjustments Aim to Minimize Environmental Impact
Responding to feedback from an Evaluation Committee, the final project design incorporates key technical adjustments. Notably, the plan now calls for microtunneling rather of horizontal drilling for the installation of water and brine pipes in the coastal section. This change is intended to reduce technical risks and prevent the release of bentonites (clays) into the marine environment.
Another significant modification involves relocating the degassing chamber approximately 50 meters inland, away from the coastline. This adjustment eliminates the need to fell a substantial number of trees in the intervention area, optimizing the project’s footprint.
controversy and Ongoing Opposition
The environmental impact assessment process has been fraught with controversy. A public consultation on the Execution Project’s Environmental Conformity report (RECAPE) was briefly suspended in July due to a precautionary measure, though it was ultimately rejected. During the public consultation period, the APA received 45 submissions, with numerous environmental associations voicing strong objections.
Organizations such as Zero, Almargem, and Seacliff have raised concerns about potential negative impacts on local biodiversity, the landscape, and key economic sectors like fishing and agriculture. Even turismo de Portugal expressed reservations, acknowledging the plant’s strategic importance for water resilience but highlighting potential disruptions to tourist activity due to pipeline routes. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) also identified omissions in the project dossier, specifically regarding the planned unloading area, which overlaps with a designated bivalve production area, raising legal compliance questions.
A four-Year Window for Construction
The APA’s approval, formalized through the issuance of a Single Environmental title, is valid until November 24, 2029. This means construction must commence within four years to avoid expiration of the licensing. The project will be carried out by a consortium – the complementary Group of Companies (ACE) – comprising Portuguese firms Luságua and Aquapor, alongside Spanish company GS Inima Environment.
Despite the conditional approval, Zero maintains its reservations. “We continue to consider that the Algarve EDAM, as defined, presents high environmental risks, insufficiently assessed socioeconomic costs and represents a less effective option than structural water efficiency measures,” the analyst concluded. The association pledged to closely monitor the project’s implementation, ensuring adherence to all APA-imposed requirements. The future of the Algarve’s water supply,and the delicate balance between development and environmental protection,remains a critical issue as the project moves forward.
