Iberdrola's Controversial Control Over River Tagus Water Rights Sparks Outrage in Portugal

Iberdrola's Control Over River Tagus

The exact terms of the agreement between Portugal and Spain regarding the flow regime of the Tagus River remain undisclosed ahead of the Luso-Spanish Summit in Faro. The ProTejo Movement has criticized the Environment Minister for not revealing these details, highlighting a significant concession by the Portuguese government that disregards the positions of six civic movements advocating for river and water protection.

The ProTejo statement emphasizes that a daily flow is not a true ecological flow, but merely a minimal flow aimed primarily at energy production. They assert that the proposed agreement does not align with scientifically determined ecological flow regimes. Instead, it suggests a mere division of the current 7 hm3 weekly minimum flow into daily allocations, which is insufficient for ecological sustainability.

Historical Context

The movement recalls a 2017 agreement between the Portuguese government and EDP, establishing a daily minimum flow at the Belver Dam that allows for significant periods of zero flow. They argue that this approach fails to address the volatility of river flows originating from Spain and does not protect ecosystems along the river's course.

Responsibility and Future Actions

ProTejo holds the Environment Minister accountable for missing a crucial opportunity to enforce ecological flow compliance from Iberdrola in exchange for approving two reversible hydroelectric projects in Spain. These projects would allow Iberdrola to retain water longer for energy production, potentially exacerbating the situation for Portugal.

The movement plans to meet with European Commission representatives in Lisbon to express urgency about addressing Spain and Portugal's failure to implement a proper ecological flow regime, a complaint already supported by 31 organizations across various sectors.