“In addition to all those already foreseen within the scope of the PRR and within the scope of other investments that are financed, namely, by the Environmental Fund, the Government has decided to reinforce new investments in the amount of 103 million euros, destined for the region of Algarve”, said Luís Montenegro.

The Prime Minister was speaking to journalists after the meeting of the Permanent Commission for Prevention, Monitoring and Monitoring of the Effects of Drought, in Faro, which was also attended by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes.

The launch of studies to evaluate the water potential of the Algarve River basins, namely the Alportel River basin, and the study to evaluate underground water availability in the Algarve region, will have a contribution of 66 million euros, coming from the Regional Operational Program from the Algarve.

To reinforce water efficiency measures in the Silves-Lagoa-Portimão hydro-agricultural perimeter, in the western (western) Algarve, an investment of 27 million euros is planned.

The reinforcement of water efficiency measures in the declining public supply and measures for the use of treated wastewater will cost 10 million euros, he added.

These financing instruments will complement the rest already assured, in particular the 237.4 million euros foreseen in the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which, according to the prime minister, “has a low execution rate”.

“We are only at 05% execution within this volume of investments and it is also the Government's decision to take measures to accelerate the execution” of these funds, relating, among other measures, to water intake in Pomarão and the future desalination plant.