Portugal's Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, visited on April 10 the rehabilitation works of the irrigation system in Mosteiros, Arronches, and the construction of the Pisão Dam in Crato, Portalegre district. At the Pisão Dam, she reiterated the need to accelerate the work to ensure the use of European funds, as the Sustainable 2030 Program's deadline ends in 2028. 'We now have guaranteed financing,' she stated, noting that successive delays, including court cases, caused the project to leave the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), but it was subsequently included in the Sustainable 2030 Program and the State Budget.
The Pisão Dam, a multi-purpose water development project by the Alto Alentejo Intermunicipal Community, is considered strategic for water resilience in the region. With an investment exceeding €220 million, it covers about 10,000 hectares and will submerge the village of Pisão. The infrastructure aims to ensure public water supply, expand irrigation, and boost renewable energy production in Portalegre district.
During the visit, Carvalho presided over the signing and awarding of two concessions in water resources and hydropower production between the Portuguese Environment Agency and Águas do Vale do Tejo. One concession covers water capture for hydropower and rehabilitation of the Póvoa and Meadas hydroelectric schemes in Castelo de Vide, and the Poio (Bruceira) and Racheiro (Velada) reservoirs in Nisa. Another concession formalized the management of common assets of the Apartadura multi-purpose development, which ensures public supply to Marvão, Castelo de Vide, and Portalegre, as well as agricultural irrigation. The concession includes annual management plans, water quality monitoring, and promotion of water efficiency practices among farmers.
This intervention aligns with the government's strategy to strengthen water resilience, ensuring integrated and efficient resource management with direct impact on public supply, agriculture, and energy transition. The visit follows broader EU efforts to address water resilience and infrastructure, as highlighted by Commissioner Roswall's March 2026 push for bioeconomy and water framework revision, and Commissioner Jørgensen's April 2026 housing plan, which also touches on sustainable water use.
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