Albufeira drainage plan resumes with 46 million euro investment

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is resuming the Albufeira drainage plan with a total investment of 46 million euros to mitigate flood risks. The project, originally launched by the local municipality in 2016, will be directed by the APA.

A central component of the intervention is the construction of a 1.5-kilometer tunnel designed to divert the flow of the local stream directly into the ocean, thereby relieving pressure on low-lying urban areas. The cost for this tunnel alone is estimated at 33 million euros, more than double the 15 million euros projected a decade ago.

Funding for the project will be provided through the Sustentável 2030 program, a climate action and sustainability initiative financed by the Cohesion Fund. Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho described the intervention as a major project aimed at resolving flooding issues in one of the Algarve region's most vulnerable areas.