FCC Construcción Portugal has been awarded the contract to build the Vidigueira Hydraulic Project and its irrigation network, a major project for EDIA - Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva. The work will affect an area of 2,190 hectares, covering the municipalities of Cuba (parishes of Vila Alva and Vila Ruiva) and Vidigueira (parishes of Selmes, Vidigueira and Vila de Frades).

The project will develop a main network, which will include a pumping station in Vila Alva, capable of pumping an average flow of 330 l/s, and a circular reservoir in Vila Alva with a storage capacity of 1,500 m³.It will also have a 2,449-metre-long elevated pipeline connecting the Cuba Este WWTP with the Vila de Frades reservoir.

In turn, the project will develop a secondary network, which will include a sub-block in Vila Alva, covering 620 hectares, supplied by the Vila Alva WWTP and the Vila Alva reservoir. A sub-block in Vila de Frades, covering 1,300 hectares, supplied by the Vila de Frades reservoir, with a length of 29,554 metres. The sub-block in Alcaria, covering 270 hectares, supplied by the Selmes block, with a length of approximately 5,298 metres.

Extensive experience in hydraulic projects

FCC Construcción has a solid portfolio of projects in the Alqueva area, including the construction of the Monte Branco and Lagoa Vermelha dams and pumping stations; the secondary irrigation network for block 1 of the Monte Novo hydro-agricultural development; the irrigation, road and drainage infrastructure for the Orada-Amoreira hydro-agricultural development; the equipment for the Pedrogão Margem Esquerda pumping station; the Amoreira-Caliços hydraulic circuit; the irrigation, road and drainage infrastructure for the Beja block; the 4th Vale do Gaio Hydraulic Circuit and the Reguengos Hydraulic Circuit (in progress).

About the client

This project is part of the Alqueva Multi-Purpose Project (EFMA), managed by EDIA. The EFMA comprises various infrastructure projects, with the Alqueva reservoir as the main source of water, ensuring self-sufficiency for four consecutive years of drought. Currently, there are 130,000 hectares of irrigated land in operation, with plans to expand to 170,000 hectares.