Portugal launches 45-year concession tender for Cabril dam

The Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Energy has announced a public tender for the 45-year exploitation concession of the Cabril dam on the Zêzere River. The tender, scheduled for publication on Friday, has already drawn dozens of expressions of interest.

This concession marks a shift in dam management policy, moving beyond simple hydroelectric production to include comprehensive water management, climate risk mitigation, and environmental protection. The future concessionaire must ensure an average annual water reserve of 200 hectometres cubed (hm3). Specific seasonal water levels are required: 292 meters in winter for flood prevention and 296 meters in summer to serve as a strategic reserve.

As Portugal's highest dam, Cabril has a capacity of 720 hm3 and an average annual productivity of 289 GWh. The winner must also provide a public guarantee of 11 hm3 for public supply to protect against salinization of the Tagus River and severe droughts. This tender is seen as a precursor to upcoming renewals for approximately 22 other dams in the Serra da Estrela region through 2030.