Six dozen residents enjoy the arrival of electricity that has changed their personal and professional lives.
depended on generators, batteries, solar panels, but now all you need to do is press the switch to have electricity in your home, Offices, milking parlors or stables. It's been like this for about 10 months in 25 hills and farms located in the “Serra de Serpa”. In the first phase, about a decade and a half ago, with a total investment by the State, were electrified more than 200 dwellings and farms.
Today, in the two and a half dozen isolated locations in the Neta and Pulo do Lobo areas, in that municipality on the left bank of the Guadiana river, situations like preserving food, watch TV, charging your cell phone or installing a sheep milking machine are possible after the work of the Neta and Pulo do Lobo Residents' Association (AMNPL). It took four years of persistence before EDP Distribuição (now E-Nets) and the government, with the support of the Chamber of Serpa, remember Joaquim Fale, association president.
Putting electricity in Serra de Serpa cost around half a million euros, supported in 85% by E-Redes and the remaining 15% by the Chamber of Serpa and residents covered by the electrification. Each owner spent approx. 2000 euros.
Antonio Alves, 78 year old, vice president of association, left the mountain to 16 years to head to Barreiro. There 10 years he returned to the land that saw him born. “I retired and rebuilt the hill that belonged to my grandfather. I live in the fresh air and take care of the animals I raise”, account to justify the importance of having electricity in place. “It makes all the difference, but the water from Alqueva is still missing. We drink from artesian holes. If there is drought or pump failure, we die of thirst. Us and the animals”, ends.
The association president, Joaquim Fale, 62 year old, retired civil servant, have another story. He lived in Seixal and seven years ago he bought a lot and went to the mountains. “I have a farm and a vegetable garden., this is where I want to live happily the rest of my days”.
Manuel Mateos, 75 year old, former Lisnave employee, left Greater Lisbon a few months ago to head to Pulo do Lobo, “to my land”. He recovered an old house that belonged to the family to live “away from the hustle and bustle of the city”. Despite the arrival of electric light, still taking advantage of batteries and solar energy.
Raul Afonso, of 54 year old, and the woman, Irene Palma, are happier since the arrival of electricity in their grandfather's house and the dairy sheep farm. “Before, generators worked almost 24 hours. In diesel, the monthly expense was 350 euros. Electricity allows us to sleep more peacefully”, says the also president of the AMNPL General Assembly. “Last summer there was already beer and fresh water in the fridge”, says Irene.
On the opening day of the second phase of electrification, Tomé Pires, the then president of the Chamber of Serpa, expressed hope that electrification will create “new potential for the territory”.
The third and final phase of electrification of Serra de Serpa is underway. The process, which has already been admitted to E-Redes and to the Chamber of Serpa, will benefit the remaining four dozen residents.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
