A study proposes the construction of a desalination plant in Odemira (Beja) to supply the Mira Irrigation Perimeter.
The president of the Association of Horticulturists, Fruit Growers and Flower Growers of the municipalities of Odemira and Aljezur (AHSA), Luís Mesquita, told the Lusa news agency today that the association has commissioned “a preliminary study” from “an Israeli company” specializing in the area with a view to building a desalination plant in the area.
The study looked at three scenarios: “The Vicentine coast, with a desalination plant right by the coast, a second scenario was Sines [in the district of Setúbal] and the third was once again the Municipality of Odemira, but a little further inland so as not to clash with the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park (PNSACV),” he revealed.
According to Luís Mesquita, the preliminary study, which will be completed “later this week”, also carried out a survey of the “investment and water cost calculations” associated with the different locations.
“The one that has a slightly higher cost is the one that escapes the PNSACV because it has pipes and conduits a few kilometers inland,” he explained.
However, “it’s the one that seems most feasible to us because it’s the one that will be accepted most easily and quickly by the various bodies that have to give their opinion,” he said.
“What’s on the table is the possibility of using this desalination plant not only to solve the problem of the lack of water in the Mira, but also in the Bravura dam,” in Lagos, in the district of Faro, he added.
According to the study, the future plant will have the capacity to desalinate 25 million cubic meters of water per year and will involve an investment of 200 million euros.
Speaking to Lusa, the president of AHSA said he expected the investment to be made by “a company or a consortium” of companies, through the launch of a public tender.
He estimated that the project would require “a year” to secure “all the licenses” and another “three and a half years for the construction” of the plant.
“The first impression we have, from the contacts we’ve been receiving, is that there is a relatively large appetite on the part of companies specializing in this area to make the investment,” he said.
The project, noted Luís Mesquita, points to “a unique installation, which can be modeled”, thus making it possible to “increase [its] capacity” and solve “the problem of the Mira perimeter, resulting from the progressive lowering of the water in the Santa Clara dam”, but also the “filling of the Bravura dam”, in the Algarve.
However, the president of the AHSA pointed out that the planned investment of 200 million euros for the construction of the plant does not include the connection to the Algarve dam, the discussion of which “is very recent” and for which there is “still no exact figure”.
As for the price of water, he said he was aware that “it’s going to be a lot more expensive than the water that’s available today” for farmers. But, he stressed, “on the other hand, it’s guaranteed water and it’s life insurance for the coming years, with no limitations”.
With the construction of the desilting plant, “potentially the irrigated area” of the Mira Irrigation Perimeter “could increase”, Luís Mesquita also pointed out.
“The Mira Irrigation Perimeter has 12,000 hectares, but only 6,000 are irrigated, because at the moment there’s not enough water for more. As soon as there is more water available and there are investors in crops who can pay for this water at this price, there is no reason why a larger area of this perimeter shouldn’t be used,” he said.