The first desalination plant planned for the Algarve has hit yet another bump in the road: beyond the multitude of arguments against it, not to mention court actions already lodged, is the cost which has been steadily increasing, and now looks to involve at least €50 million that will not be covered by European funds.
António Pina, president of AMAL (the association of Algarve municipalities), has admitted that questions now must be asked of Águas do Algarve, promoters of the project, because if they have to finance the €50 million “with their own funds and go into debt, what will that do with the tariffs (that consumers pay)?
This figure has never been presented by Águas do Algarve”. Echoing opponents to the plan, Pina thinks the government should rethink the plan. Indeed, he has said he feels there was a “misunderstanding” on the “supposed wealth of the people of the Algarve (…)
“We cannot always be the ones who make a positive contribution to the State Budget (with tourism revenue), but then the State’s investments in the Algarve are far below what our contribution is”, he said.
