The sub-delegate, José María Martín, today highlighted, in a meeting held with the Water Board, that the investments made and planned by the Government of Spain in the province of Almería in water matters currently exceed 400 million euros. «It is a very powerful investment, to make progress in desalination and in the modernisation of irrigation with the irrigation communities,» Martín said at the meeting.
The amount includes 236 million euros for the works planned in irrigation communities, in addition to 185 million to increase by 32 Hm3/year the current production of desalinated water in the province and the 100 committed by the Government of Spain for the implementation of the desalination plant of Bajo Almanzora II, included in the Royal Decree of measures to combat drought approved in May 2023.
Among other issues, Martín Fernández informed the irrigators of the drive to expand the Campo de Dalías plant, with the project already in the tendering phase, and of the improvement in energy efficiency at the Carboneras desalination plant. Both reached a production of 72 Hm3 last year. The objective is to exceed 100 Hm3, increasing the current production of desalinated water in the province by 32 Hm3/year. The sub-delegate also informed the members of the Water Board of the progress made on the project for the photovoltaic plants that will be associated with the desalination plants (Carboneras, Campo de Dalías and Bajo Almanzora I). It is foreseen that, when these plants are in operation, they will supply up to 35% of the electricity needs of the desalination plants.
For their part, the members of the Water Board have asked that the growth forecast for the Poniente region in the 2040 horizon be evaluated, in order to take it into account in the desalination strategy to be implemented in the province. The aim is to be able to reduce extractions from the aquifer.
They also expressed their concern about the situation of the Negratín-Almanzora water transfer and the impact on irrigators in the Levante region.