The project of a biomethane production unit in Ferreira do Alentejo, with capacity to receive almost 70 thousand tons of organic waste annually, is in public consultation.
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27/10/2026
by
Lusa
O project of a biomethane production unit in Ferreira do Alentejo, with capacity to receive almost 70 thousand tons of organic bovine waste and olive bagasse annually, is in public consultation.
The Environmental Impact Study (EIA) of the so-called Biomethane Production Unit of Ferreira do Alentejo, consulted today by the agency Lusa, is in public consultation until November 25 at the Participate portal, of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
According to the Non-Technical Summary (RNT) of EIA, the project consists of the construction and exploration of a biomethane production unit in the Agroindustrial Park of Penique, in the parish of Odivelas, municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo, district of Beja.
The plant, which is expected to involve an investment of EUR 20 million, is intended for the recovery of biodegradable organic waste, such as bovine manure and manure (net resulting from decomposition of that material) and olive bagasse.
With an expected life span of 25 years, the industrial unit, promoted by the company FBG Ferreira do Alentejo, will value organic waste “through an anaerobic digestion process”, with a view to “production of biogas, followed by purification and liquefaction of biomethane”.
According to the promoter, the plant “will be able to produce, annually, 4,892,754 Nm3 [normal cubic meters] of biomethane with injection quality in the National Natural Gas Distribution Network (RNDGN)”.
“ To this end, the installed capacity for the reception of organic waste (livestock effluents and agro-industrial waste) is 69,500 tonnes per year”, he stresses.
The promoter explains that “after anaerobic digestion of organic matter, in addition to biogas, digested is generated”, a byproduct that is separated into liquid and solid fractions, whose agricultural valuation is expected.
“Agricultural use will depend on compliance with the applicable conditions, characterisation of the digest and selection of appropriate parcels”, he points out, indicating that “as long as it is not possible to achieve the End of the Waste Status (RES), the digest will be sent to the duly licensed waste treatment operator”.
The unit, with an area of about 2.1 hectares, falls within the “national and European objectives of energy transition, decarbonization of the economy and appreciation of endogenous resources”, can be read.
As regards possible impacts, the EIA’s NRT of the project “atmospheric emissions during the operation, namely CO2 release [carbon dioxide] and odors”, as well as noise during the operation of the equipment and increased ground traffic, among others.
“ During the holding, some 21 trucks are estimated per day for the transport of raw materials, digested and biomethane and can reach about 33 trucks per day during the olive campaign. In addition, water and liquefied CO2 transports, estimated in one truck per day for each stream,” says the promoter.