With a new Government in Portugal, and after the first meeting between Montenegro and Sánchez, the Madrid Executive once again insisted and questioned Portugal about the Alqueva water. Spain sent a letter (which Portugal did not receive) and ministries from both countries will meet soon. However, and in statements to the News by the MinuteO Ministry of Environment and Energy guarantees that “no point regarding the supply of water to the neighboring country is on the table”.
“There seem to be conditions” to negotiate access for Huelva farmers to the water stored in Alqueva, admitted María José Rico, Government sub-delegate in the Spanish region, in an interview with the daily Viva Huelva, on April 28th.
According to Rico, a letter was sent formalizing this request. However, during the opening ceremony of the 40th Feira do Alentejo – Ovibeja, minister Maria da Graça Carvalho, responsible for the Environment department, denied to the Público newspaper that she had received any letter.
Already at News by the MinuteO Ministry of Environment and Energy confirms that “a meeting will be held, as soon as possible, with Spanish counterparts’ ministers and secretaries of State, to discuss energy and environment issues”.
“However, there is no point on the table regarding the supply of water to the neighboring country”, he added.
What is at stake in Alqueva?
The Spanish intend to capture this water at the confluence of the Chança river with the Guadiana river, close to the border line.
It should be noted that this is not the first time that Andalusian authorities have demanded access to water from the Alqueva Dam. Basically, by claiming the water from Alqueva, they only intend to formalize the use of the water that they have been withdrawing over the last two decades, systematically and constantly, through Boca-Chança, downstream from Alqueva.
In October 2023, the regional parliament of Andalusia, in Spain, approved a “non-legislative proposal”, that is, a recommendation, requesting water from the Alqueva due to the drought. As it was a request to another State, the Andalusian government urged the central government to do so, but the Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera considered the transfer of water from Alqueva “almost impossible”, saying that this This type of claim is not covered by the Albufeira Convention, signed in 1998, which stipulates the management of border rivers between Portugal and Spain.
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