During a visit to the construction site, Maria da Graça Carvalho informed journalists that the ongoing artificial sand nourishment project aims to resolve the sand shortage in that section, ensuring its stability for several years, and also mitigating cliff erosion.
“This project will cost approximately two million euros. It involves transporting 220,000 cubic meters of sand across 1,350 meters of beach,” she stated, clarifying that the sand will be moved from Praia da Rocha to neighboring beaches.
The project will “slightly reduce the distance to the sea at Praia da Rocha, which is excessive, and transport this sand to beaches up to Alvor,” Maria da Graça Carvalho explained, emphasizing the importance of this intervention for safeguarding that part of the Algarve coastline.
This is one of the initial interventions funded by the Sustainable Operational Program, with national participation from the Environmental Fund. The next, larger project is planned for the coastal area between Quarteira and Garrão in the municipality of Loulé.
“At the beginning of the year—we’re aiming for the Feast of the Epiphany—we will sign the contract for Garrão, and it’s a larger, more complex project worth nearly 15 million euros,” she stated, highlighting the area’s severe erosion issues over many years.
The Portimão project began in early November and will last seven months, with a completion date set for May. However, efforts are being made for the company to ensure that most of the beach is usable by April, according to the official.
“We have approximately 140 million euros in Cohesion Fund financing until 2028, and we want to carry out the essential work along the country’s coastline,” the official mentioned.
Following her visit to the Portimão project, the Minister of Environment proceeded to Quinta do Lago in Loulé, where she inaugurated a Water Treatment Plant (ETAR) designed to treat water for irrigation of golf courses and public gardens.
