11.761 irrigators will benefit in the communities of the Pinyana Canal (Lleida) and the Aragon and Catalonia Canal (Huesca and Lleida)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), through the State Mercantile Society of Agricultural Infrastructures (SEIASA), has formalized today in Lleida two agreements to allocate a total of 45.000.000 euros (VAT not included) to carry out modernization works that will allow saving water and energy costs in irrigation systems in Huesca and Lleida.
The event was presided over by the Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food, Begoña García, and was attended by the Deputy Government Delegate in Lleida, José Crespín, and the Deputy Government Delegate in Huesca, José Carlos Campos Subías. The Mayor of Fraga, Ignacio Gramun, attended the signing of the agreement, along with other authorities from the beneficiary provinces.
During her speech, the Secretary of State emphasized the Government's commitment to transforming irrigation systems into more modern and efficient ones. She also noted that the signed agreements complement the more than €140 million that will be invested in modernizing irrigation systems in the provinces of Lleida and Girona. "These actions will increase the efficiency of water and energy use, maintaining Catalonia's position as the autonomous community receiving the most funding from the PRTR (Regional Irrigation Program) for irrigation modernization," she added.
51,74 MILLION EUROS IN THE ARAGON AND CATALONIA CANAL
The project to modernize and improve energy efficiency by incorporating renewable energy in the irrigated area of the Aragon and Catalonia Canal has a budget of 20.000.000 euros (VAT not included), will benefit 11.088 irrigators and will act on an area of 104.850 hectares.
The planned works include the actions necessary for approximately 3.600 hectares to achieve a balance between regulated resources and water demands in the irrigable area of the Aragon and Catalonia Canal.
The construction of a photovoltaic solar installation is also planned, which will allow the irrigation system to be powered by renewable energy.
On the other hand, another project included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan is currently being implemented, with a planned investment of 6.360.000 euros (VAT not included) and which consists of its comprehensive digitization.
WATER SAVINGS IN THE PINYANA CANAL
The Pinyana Canal irrigation modernization project , which covers the municipalities of Corbins, Benavent de Segriá, Torre-Serona, Vilanova de Segriá, Lleida and La Portella (Lleida), has an investment of 25.000.000 euros (VAT not included).
The new infrastructure, which will benefit 673 irrigators, aims to reduce the current use of fossil fuels and energy costs , by supplying irrigation water by gravity to the 1.880 hectares affected.
Both actions are part of Phase III of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain (PRTR), within the Plan for the improvement of efficiency and sustainability in irrigation promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and are therefore co-financed with Next Generation funds from the European Union.
