In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the company Seacliff, owner of the Pine Sun Park tourist development in Olhos de Água, Albufeira, reported that the legal action was filed in the Administrative and Tax Court (TAF) of Loulé on 26 April.

Teresa Fernandes, spokesperson for Águas do Algarve, the project promoter, confirmed to Lusa that the company has already been notified of the precautionary measure filed by Seacliff - Real Estate Purchase and Sale, the former owner of the land where the Algarve Seawater Desalination Plant will be built.

“At this moment, we are analysing in detail the terms on which the initial petition submitted to the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Loulé by the representative of the aforementioned company is based, so that, as opposing parties, we can present our defence in a clear and unequivocal manner, with the courts having the final say on this matter,” reads a written response sent to Lusa.

According to the legal framework, the precautionary measure takes effect immediately, suspending the desalination plant works, after the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and Águas do Algarve are summoned.

“Águas do Algarve and the APA will have the opportunity to respond to the injunction, as well as fight – as they certainly will – for the public interest of the project, as they have done on other occasions. Seacliff will obviously not fail to respond to this defence of a supposed public interest in this project,” concludes the former owner of the expropriated land.