NGOs raise the alarm over Portuguese hydropower plan

(Brussels, EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 March 21, 2008) In recognition of World Water Day on 22 March, the European Environmental Bureau, Europe’s largest federation of environmental NGOs, together with Portuguese environmental groups Almargem, Aldeia, COAGRET-Portugal, Euronatura, FAPAS, FNCA, GEOTA, Grupo Flamingo, LPN, Quercus and SPEA have sounded alarm bells in a letter to Commission President Barroso over the Portuguese Government’s plans to build up to 12 new hydro power plants. While the Portuguese government claims the dams would reduce their dependence on fossil fuel-based energy, the environmental organizations argue that Portugal has many options for more cost-effective and less damaging ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Eugénio Sequeira explains: The Portuguese Government’s plans for 12 new dams are likely to heavily damage some of Portugal’s last stretches of natural river ecosystems, yet the Government’s impact assessment has failed to assess these ecological impacts and worse, did not even consider alternate solutions like solar and demand management.

The Portuguese Business Council for Sustainable Development has estimated that Portugal has the potential to save up to 40% of its current energy consumption through demand management[1]. Yet instead of focusing on such easy-to-implement solutions, the Portuguese Government would prefer investing 1 trillion EUR into a project that will generate electricity equivalent to a mere 3.3% of all energy consumed in Portugal.

Francisco Ferreira adds: It is disturbing that this decision to choose hydropower does not seem to have taken climate change into consideration, which will make it actually highly unlikely that there will be sufficient water flows to keep the plants running over the long term. Investing in solar power and energy efficiency would be a much smarter choice.

The environmental groups also point out that the Portuguese Government’s plans will be in direct conflict with efforts to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive. All EU member states are currently preparing management plans for river basins in compliance the Water Framework Directive, which mandates their finalisation by 2010.

In addition, completion of the dam projects will undermine Portugal’s ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as Pieter de Pous, EEB’s water policy officer explains:

Intact river ecosystems play a fundamental role in protecting ourselves from the severe impacts of climate change. With awareness of climate change and its impacts increasing every day, one would expect decision makers to take every measure possible to protect and even restore river ecosystems. Yet we are increasingly seeing the opposite trend across Europe with investment in dams on the rise.

By writing to the Portuguese Commission President, the environmental groups call on the European Commission to give a very clear signal to the Portuguese Government that its energy supply plans need to be consistent with the legal requirements of the Water Framework Directive.

Contacts:

LPN – Liga para a Protecção da Natureza

Eugénio Sequeira: 00 351 96 8029499

Paula Chainho: 00 351 96 2415546

Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza

Francisco Ferreira: 00 351 93 7788470

Sandra Oliveira: 00 351 91 2856744

EEB – European Environmental Bureau

Pieter de Pous : 0032-2891306 or 0032-497537264

John Hontelez: 0032-2891091

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[1] Manual de Boas Práticas de Eficiência Energética, WBCSD Portugal (http://www.bcsdportugal.org/content/index.php?action=detailFo&rec=82)