Alqueva: The gates closed there 15 year old, a 8 February 2002.
After 2.400 million euro investment, 21 years of work and 15 to fill, Alqueva produces energy, reinforces water supply 200.000 population, rega 120.000 hectares and can expand to benefit more 47.000.
They pointed out yesterday 15 years of the closing of the Alqueva dam gates, that occurred 8 February 2002 and marked the beginning of reservoir filling, which has reached several times the full storage 4.150 million cubic meters of water, the quota 152 meters.
Currently, in albufeira, located at “heart” do Alentejo, no river Guadiana, stores 3.143 million cubic meters of water and is the quota 147.69 meters and 78% the maximum capacity, according to data provided today to Lusa agency for Enterprise Development and Infrastructures of Alqueva (EDIA).
The current volume of the reservoir is “Normal and compatible” with the dam goal: ensure a strategic water reserve able to supply all the water needs covered by the project for four consecutive years of extreme drought, He told Lusa the president of edia, José Pedro Salema.
In the Alqueva project, what is “structuring” and represents “a strong contribution to the development” do Alentejo, They have been invested 2.400 million, distributed by agricultural valences, energy and public supply, said.
José Pedro Salema takes stock “extremely positive” from the project, had “adjustments”, as the increase of the area irrigated by benefited, of 110.000 to 120.000 hectares, and whose completion was anticipated and end in 2016, nine years ahead of schedule (2025).
In agricultural valence, EDIA ended in 2016 the construction of the necessary infrastructure for watering 120.000 provided hectares and are in operation.
As for the public water supply, the company completed, in 2010, the links between the reservoir “mother” Alqueva and the four reservoirs covered by the project, which can strengthen, whenever there is a need, public supply 13 Alentejo municipalities with over 200.000 population, including Beja and Évora.
In energy valence, besides having built the core of Alqueva and Pedrógão, which began operating in 2004 and 2006, respectively, and they were concessioned to EDP, EDIA finished 2011 the installation of the five mini-hydro project.
EDIA also bet on other renewable energy sources and has installed small solar photovoltaic plants by the Alqueva dam and the pumping stations of Piso and Amoreira and a first set of floating photovoltaic solar panels to produce electricity to power the water reservoir operations Stork.
Now, says José Pedro Salema, perspetivam-se “two new phases in life” Alqueva: the “extensive use” infrastructure and water and increasing the area covered by irrigation more 47.000 hectares.
The adherence of farmers to irrigate “It has been making up exponentially in the perimeters of the Alqueva”, what, although “youth”, “already has a high membership fee”, that round will 67% on average and, in some cases, exceeded 80% in the first two / three years.
“A membership fee of this magnitude can only be considered a success and unprecedented” in Portuguese agricultural landscape and transformed the area covered by the Alqueva “the new agriculture center”, he stressed.
Currently, a EDIA tem 3.500 Farmers customers who use water from the Alqueva, of which 157 They are foreigners and explore about 35.000 hectares in the region and, of these, 93 They are from Spain and the olive is the main crop in exploration, indicated.
According to a study on the impacts of the project, commissioned by edia, the 120 hectares benefited from the Alqueva, when it reaches the planned accession to the irrigation 80 a 85%, should generate more 7.500 jobs and increases 340 million in gross value and 254 million in gross value added of the annual output of the agricultural sector in the region, said.
According to José Pedro Salema, EDIA has been developing the project for increase in 47.000 hectares area covered by irrigation Alqueva, that will imply an investment of 220 million and financed by Junker Plan is under review, “pending a final decision soon”.
The expansion of irrigation will have direct impacts and “in cruise year” can generate more 2.630 jobs and increases 119 million in gross value and 89 million in gross value added of the annual output of the agricultural sector in the region.
The overall project Alqueva forced to build a new town to house about 400 inhabitants of “old woman” Village Light, submerged by the reservoir waters, a total investment of about 39 million.
Alqueva, in their total storage capacity, It is the largest artificial lake in Europe, with an area of 250 square kilometers and about 1.160 kilometers margins.
