The Minister of Environment and Energy, participated in the colloquium on “The challenge of water for national agriculture” within the scope of Ovibeja, where he discussed projects considered “privileged for Alentejo”, in terms of water reserves.
Before looking at what the Government's bets will be for the region, Maria da Graça Carvalho, natural de Beja, heard José Nuncio, president and Fenareg, use a very fashionable expression: “the minister is a rural woman like us”.
The minister began by referring to the Government's work saying that “it is necessary to make a political difference compared to the last ones”, later announcing the strategy for Alentejo that passes “through the Crato/Pisão dams, Monte da Rocha (Ourique)” and Santa Clara (Odemira), concluded.
“The Crato/Pisão dam is a complex project, candidate for the Resolution and Resilience Plan (PRR), with three aspects: water reserve, irrigation and photovoltaic park. As the PRR is very late, we will try to recover time so that financing becomes a reality” explained the minister.
On the other hand, Santa Clara and Monte da Rocha are linked to Alqueva, justifying Graça Carvalho “that reinforcement between Alqueva and, Rocha and Santa Clara to maintain the privileged situation of Alentejo, exception made to the Coast”, materialized.
A situation that worries the head of the Environment and Energy portfolio is the large investment in the area of hydrogen, which requires a lot of water to develop. “We do not rule out asking for help from large companies that will operate in the sector, to create a desalination plant in Sines”, said the minister, justifying it with the fact that “it would solve the water problems in the area and would be an excellent solution for hydrogen producing companies”, finished.
Graça Carvalho did not “shake the pataca tree” in her conversation with the farmers and assured: “I don’t come to make promises of great works. We must not waste opportunities to improve what already exists and make it more effective.”, said.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
