The Portuguese Government will advance with a special plan for the municipality of Sines, in the district of Setúbal, with the objective of responding to the pressure caused by the concentration of industrial investments in the region. The announcement was made by the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, on the sidelines of the ceremony for the delivery of the Digital Exploration Title for the two new factories of the Alba project, by Repsol.
According to the government official, the plan will include responses in the areas of housing, education and health, including access to homes, schools, health centers, retirement homes, nurseries and preschool. Castro Almeida stated that it will be necessary to reinforce public investment in the municipality, as the industrial concentration has been significant and it is necessary to guarantee adequate conditions for those who come to work there.
The president of the Municipal Council of Sines, Álvaro Beijinha, had warned during the ceremony about the pressure that private investments, estimated at more than 20 billion euros, have exerted on housing and public services. The mayor argued that these large private investments must be accompanied by public investment in all areas.
The minister acknowledged that this measure is not usual in the rest of the national territory, but highlighted that Sines presents unique specificities due to the dimension of private investments. The Executive is working with the municipal council to prepare this public investment plan, which aims to ensure that the industrial development of the region is accompanied by the necessary infrastructure and services for the population.
