The Beja Block

This contract, which is a part of the Alqueva Global Irrigation System, includes the construction of the drainage system, road network, irrigation system and monitoring automation and remote control system (SMAT) for the Beja Block. The contract is part of a set of four irrigation blocks known as Beringel-Beja, all located in the Beja area, over a total area of nearly 5,300 hectares.

Specifically, the Beja Block covers a total area of nearly 2,560 hectares and is located to the west and south-west of Beja. It is supplied from a pumping station at the foot of Cinco Reis dam, with support from the Reservatório do Cerro (terminal tank). The irrigation system includes the installation of 42 hydrants and 66 irrigation outlets, 24 isolating valves, 68 vents and 67 bottom outlets, over a total length of approximately 26,146 m, with design diameters for the pipes — made of ductile cast iron and high-density polyethylene — ranging between 180 mm and 1,600 mm.

The contract, worth 19 million, will have a completion time of 18 months following the award date.

Alqueva Global Irrigation System

The Alqueva Global Irrigation System, covering an area of nearly 120,000 hectares, is made up of a set of 69 dams, tanks and storage dams, 382 km of primary network, 1,620 km of pipe extensions in the secondary network, as well as 47 pumping stations, 5 mini-hydro plants and 1 photovoltaic power plant.

The Alqueva Global Irrigation System is divided into three subsystems, according to the different water sources:

The Alqueva subsystem, with water from Alqueva reservoir, runs from Álamos pumping station. This infrastructure enable the water to be raised to a height of 90 m, via a forced pipe, 850 m long and 3.2 m in diameter, up to Álamos reservoir, assuring the water supply for the whole Alqueva subsystem, with a total irrigated area of nearly 64,000 hectares, covering a total of 8,619 properties.

The Ardila subsystem, which begins at Pedrógão pumping station on the left bank, is made up of a set of 15 dams or tanks, running along more than 60 km of primary network, with nearly 270 km of pipes in the secondary network, 6 pumping stations and a min-hydro plant, covering a total irrigated area of 30,000 hectares.

The Pedrógão subsystem, which begins at Pedrógão pumping station on the right bank, includes a total of 9 dams or tanks, 3 pumping stations, over 42 km of extensions of primary- network extensions and pipes running throughout the region to the east of Beja, on the right bank of the river Guadiana, covering a total irrigated area of 24,500 hectares.

RRC’s presence in the EDIA initiative

RRC has had a constant presence in this initiative, undertaking a number of contracts in addition to the Beja Irrigation Block, including: