22.6 billion in PTRR, new dams, radio: Montenegro announced news

Global financial envelope of 22.6 billion euros and a time horizon of nine years. There are also measures on the forest.

Exactly, the Government’s priority is clear: to make Portugal “more prepared” in the face of extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions or greater pressure on critical infrastructure.

The “Portugal Transformation, Recovery and Resilience” (PTRR) program will have a global financial envelope of 22.6 billion euros and a time horizon of nine years.

The global amount of 22.6 billion euros is divided between national public funds (37%), private financing (34%) and European funds (19%), according to a summary document distributed at the presentation that took place at the Portuguese Pavilion, in Lisbon.

The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, indicated that the PTRR is divided into three pillars: recover, protect and respond, in 15 domains, com 96 measurements.

“The overall value of the plan is 22.6 billion euros, distributed across public and private investment. It is mostly national financing, but it also absorbs a portion of European funds”, he explained.

The “Portugal Transformation, Recovery and Resilience” (PTRR) program was introduced by the Prime Minister in February following the storms that left 19 people dead and hundreds of people homeless, especially in the Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley and Alentejo regions.

The Government estimated losses of more than 5,300 million euros due to bad weather.

Extended bottom

The Government plans to rethink the structure and financial allocation of the Municipal Emergency Fund (FEM) and create a Territorial Data Center for an accurate assessment of risks and needs of municipalities in the event of disasters.

In the medium term, the expansion of the FEM and the creation of a Territorial Data Center (CDT) are planned, estimating an investment of 300 million euros.

Also according to the document, entitled “Portugal Prepared”, “incentives for prevention and adaptation approaches to risks” are foreseen.

It is also planned, in a complementary way, to create a Territorial Data Center, to integrate “updated and interoperable information, which allows for an accurate assessment of municipal risks and needs, sizing the FEM for prevention and effective response to calamities”.

Following the large losses caused by bad weather in January and February, the Government decided, in mid-April, to advance 75 ME from the FEM to the most affected municipalities.

Networks and dams

Luís Montenegro also spoke about an “absolutely crucial point”: the Government will invest 4 billion euros in strengthening networks distribution of electricity e gas, and will be built four dams.

Regarding the first point, the idea is to prioritize the development and modernization of networks, to increase their robustness and ability to respond to failures. Water supply and energy storage capabilities are also expected to be strengthened.

The four new dams will be in Girabolhos, Ocreza-Alvito, Portela and Foupana, in addition to approximately 400 ponds and small reservoirs.

Forest

The PTRR also includes measures to forest: active forest management, with R$132 million, and the reduction of fuel load, with R$320 million – both medium-term investments.

The time horizon is “medium term”; the document reinforces “the financing and simplifies the management of the Active Forest Program, with a focus on smallholding territories”, providing for new notices from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) “with increased funding”.

The promotion of partnerships for forest management, with 100 ME (medium term), is based on “joint forest management models, supported by the involvement of agents in the forestry sector (owners, public entities, industry, among others)”, with the expansion of intervention models on a landscape scale (Integrated Landscape Management Operations) throughout the country.

Also in the medium term, 8 ME are included for the operational forest health program, including “the reinforcement of the national network for monitoring and early detection of pests”, and 100 ME for the eradication and control of invasive species, with financial and technical support for owners.

Aerial surveillance and monitoring, a “long-term” investment of 14 ME, is intended for “the development, testing and operation of unmanned aircraft (‘drones’) with advanced sensors — optical, thermal and oceanographic — for continuous monitoring of urban, forestry and maritime environments”.

Radio

The Government said it will reinforce radio stations to become “communication agents in crisis”, after admitting that they considered creating their own channel.

The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced the “strengthening of the capacity of radio stations to become communication agents in crisis”.

The Government said that, in the face of climate adversities, it is important to have greater capacity to flow information and admitted that it had considered the possibility of creating its own channel.

“The conclusion we draw is that radio stations have enough potential and the know-how [conhecimento] and awareness enough to be able to hold this capacity themselves today”, said the Prime Minister.

“This is not a closed program that ends with its presentation today. On the contrary. We will have the capacity, at each moment, to make an assessment of what is being applied”, analyzed the prime minister, regarding the PTRR in general.