Girabolhos dam project aims for 2034 completion as Portugal advances strategic water‑energy infrastructure

Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced the launch of a public tender for the Girabolhos dam on the Mondego River, describing it as an essential and strategic multi‑purpose infrastructure. The 65‑year concessioned project is expected to provide a minimum 40 MW of hydro‑electric power, secure water supply for local populations, and mitigate flood risks in the Baixo Mondego region. The government aims to accelerate the schedule, reducing the environmental‑impact study phase from three to two years and the construction phase to seven years, targeting completion by 2034. Private investors are expected to fund the €400‑€500 million project, with no direct public cost. Proposals must be submitted by 9 April 2027, after which the winning consortium will have 60 months to deliver the project definition and environmental study, followed by 18 months for the preliminary design. Local municipalities have called for compensation and infrastructure links, while the agency APA highlighted the dam’s role in flood control, water security, and energy storage. The initiative is part of Portugal’s broader transition to renewable energy and regional development.