“I bring news, which was also announced after the last Council of Ministers, that we have approved and completed the entire process to inject sand precisely on this beach, covering 6.5 kilometers up to Quinta do Lago,” stated Maria da Graça Carvalho to journalists.
The official was speaking during a visit to Quarteira, in the municipality of Loulé, Faro district, in the Algarve region most affected by coastal erosion. This is where Praia do Forte Novo is located, a beach whose sand often disappears in winter due to storms that also destroy access points.
“Quinta do Lago no longer needs it, but Garrão, Vale do Lobo, starting here from Quarteira, is very important because, as you can see, there is a huge lack of sand here. In fact, those walkways you see have been set back; this beach has receded several meters during this winter, and therefore it is a significant intervention worth 14.3 million euros,” she added.
According to the minister, authorization for the investment has already been granted, and the tender is expected to open soon. Everything is ready for the work to begin right after the bathing season, considering the tender process takes four to five months.
“When the next bathing season begins next year, the work will be complete. That is our schedule,” she estimated.
In addition to this project, which had already been announced last summer, Maria da Graça Carvalho also revealed an intervention on the Quarteira breakwaters. This will involve removing some existing breakwaters and adding length to those remaining.
“It’s a different geometry, as indicated by the technicians, to prevent the removal of sand from happening again, so we don’t have to inject [sand] every 10 years, which is what’s happening now,” she noted.
According to the minister, the Environmental Impact study is being finalized, and the intervention on the breakwaters is expected to take place after the end of next year’s bathing season, aiming for completion in 2027.
Last August, the Minister of Environment had already announced an investment of 16.7 million euros for the protection of the Algarve coast, with interventions in coastal strips in Loulé and Portimão, covering a total of eight kilometers.
The largest operation is planned for the Quarteira-Garrão stretch (Loulé), with an investment of 14.3 million euros. It consists of artificial nourishment of that area over a 6.6-kilometer stretch, combining sand replenishment with cliff protection.
The intervention on the stretch between the Vau and Três Castelos beaches (Portimão) – covering a distance of 1.5 kilometers and with a budget of 2.4 million euros – aims to use the excess sand accumulated over the decades on Praia da Rocha to counteract the erosion on neighboring beaches.
The operations will be co-financed by the Sustainable Program 2030, as part of the enhancement of natural resources and the promotion of sustainable development.
