New Plans Give Some Hope To The ‘Neighbours of The Cork Factory’
It is with some hope for the future that ‘The Neighbours of the Factory’, who have suffered from terrible smells, noise and poor air quality for far too long now, feel nearer to being able to breathe clean air at last.
Amorim own the factory in Vale de Lama, Silves which produces cork insulation boards. In the quarterly meeting, organised by Silves Camara, Amorim showed more commitment to introducing a number of changes, with the result being a cleaner factory. The progress of the changes to the factory will be followed closely by all concerned.
On July 11, 2024, the 12th quarterly meeting was held to follow up and monitor the work to correct the environmental anomalies at the factory of Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) in Vale de Lama, Silves. The meeting was held at Silves Town Hall and was attended by Councillor Maxime Sousa Bispo and representatives of CCDR-Algarve, the Pestana group and the “Neighbours of the Factory” Residents' Committee.
Meeting Bulletin
Amorim Cork Insulation informed us about the re-organisation of Amorim Corticeira in 2024. The 3 business units (BU) of Cork Composite, Cork Flooring and Cork Insulation will be merged into 1 BU, called Amorim Cork Solutions, under new leadership.
Based on the noise control plan for the entire factory (developed by a company specialising in noise), Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) has presented a project to implement soundproofing measures, the aim of which is to encapsulate and soundproof all the machinery, equipment and pipes inside the factory. The first phase of the work is due to be completed by 31 December 2024 and will focus on the main equipment, such as the crusher, boiler, autoclave and sawmill, among others, with the aim of ensuring compliance with the noise levels imposed by legislation. The second phase of work is due to take place between 2025 and 2026, and will involve carrying out minor, but no less important, work, as it will make it possible to gradually reduce noise levels with the aim of going further than required by law.
With regard to the elimination of white fumes, the plans presented by Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) reflect the same work completion dates already presented at the last meeting, thus increasing the level of trust placed by all participants in this process.
The pre-filter (phase 1) is not delivering the results expected by all parties. Although this equipment is allegedly in operation, the truth is that a lot of white smoke is still being emitted into the atmosphere, which creates environmental nuisance. Even so, the rule remains that when the pre-filter doesn't work, the factory's operations must be suspended.
In view of the failure of phase 1, Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) has moved ahead with the design, construction and implementation of the RTO filter, corresponding to phase 2, which is still scheduled for completion in August 2025. The project for the new RTO has already been designed and the contract for its manufacturing should be awarded by 15 September 2024. It is therefore expected that manufacture and assembly of the equipment will begin in October 2024.
The RTO filter is a large box that will be transported to Silves in parts, assembled inside the plant from the 2nd quarter of 2025 and connected to the plant's systems during the summer of 2025. The RTO is scheduled to start operating in August 2025. That's the moment everyone is looking forward, to no longer seeing and smelling the white smoke for 99%.
The “Neighbours of the factory”, for their part, have expressed their discontent and frustration with the excessive delay in correcting the plant's anomalies. Solutions are implemented slowly and there is great disappointment at the permanence of the white smoke and the black particles that continue to pollute their properties. As a result, the level of confidence in Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) is falling dramatically. In addition, poor financial results in 2023, as well as in the first quarter of 2024, have neighbours worried about the future of the factory and its ability to resolve existing anomalies.
‘The factory's neighbours’ explained that they are prepared to take tougher legal action if the results are not satisfactory by the end of 2024, and are not ruling out legal action.
Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) proposed that the new CEO of Amorim Cork Solutions attend the next quarterly meeting in November 2024, with the aim of increasing the level of trust among all the parties involved and deepening the levels of commitment among all. All the participants in the meeting agreed with this proposal.
We would all like to thank the permanent municipal executive of Silves Town Council for their support and commitment in carrying out this participatory process, which aims to correct the environmental anomalies of the factory of Amorim Cork Insulation (ACI) in Vale da Lama, Silves, with a consequent reduction in the pollution caused by its operation, and to improve the relationship between ACI and the surrounding population, contributing to a more integrated and participatory community in resolving matters of public interest in the environmental field.
Algarve Hotel Union protests against "low wages and deteriorating living conditions"
The Management of the Algarve Hotel Industry Union has decided to carry out public protests over the coming days, at establishments belonging to the directors of the Algarve Hotel Industry and Similar Industries Association (AIHSA).
In a statement, the union says they are protesting, "against low wages and the degradation of living conditions for workers in the sector".
The unionists add that this decision "comes as a result of the employers' association blocking a fair review of the salary scale since 2018".
The protests began today, July 26th, at 9:30 am this morning, at the Ria Park Hotel & Spa, in Vale do Garrão, in Loulé.
'Save Water' campaign alerts tourists via the luggage conveyor belt
Aimed at alerting tourists to the importance of saving water during their stay, 6 transparent suitcases, each containing 40 litres of seawater, rolled around the baggage claim belts at Faro airport yesterday.
“You can save up to 235 litres of water during your stay”, reads a huge poster in the arrivals area at Faro, and also on the pieces of luggage that circulated on one of the airport’s luggage belts during yesterday afternoon.
The transparent wheelie suitcasecase symbolises the amount of water (40 litres) that each tourist can save daily, through more conscious use.
The eye catching campaign took passengers arriving on a flight from Dublin by surprise, with one of them admitting that he had not understood the message. Faced with suitcases full of water, he took the opportunity to joke, saying that he thought the liquid was vodka, but after receiving an explanation, he praised the initiative.
“We were here in May and at the time I didn’t know there was a drought in the Algarve,” he said, despite this being his ninth trip to Portugal, when asked by journalists if he was aware of the problem of the lack of water resources that plagues the region.
Amazed by the fact that he could save up to 235 litres of water, on average, during his stay in the Algarve, by adopting good consumption practices, Damien assured that now that he was aware of the situation he would “definitely be more careful” with water use.
While waiting for their luggage to arrive, another couple travelling on the same flight told reporters that they understood the message, but admitted that they had never heard of the drought situation that is affecting the country, with a particular incidence in the South. Visiting Portugal for the first time, and after having learned of the water shortage situation, the young couple, with a 10-night stay ahead of them, assured that they would be more careful with the management of water resources.
The symbolic action, organised by Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Algarve, is part of the 'Save Water' campaign (in Portuguese, Poupe Água), which will be on billboards in the Algarve region and in national digital media and in the main tourist-sending markets until the end of the year.
According to André Gomes, adherence to the 'Save Water' water efficiency campaign, aimed at tourist developments, has already enabled water savings of 12% compared to last year, according to data from ADENE – Energy Agency.
However, to date, only 110 of the 600 classified tourist developments in the region have adhered to the 'Save Water' seal, through registration on the Commitment to Water Efficiency platform in the Algarve, which represents 16% of all developments.
Faro airport is also making an effort to reduce water consumption, with an irrigation project underway using treated water from the Faro Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETAR), which will save 30% of water consumption from the supply network.
Although the Algarve remains in a drought situation, the new Government (PSD/CDS-PP) has eased the restrictions that the previous executive (PS) had imposed in February to deal with water shortages, after the autumn and winter rains increased water reserves in the region.
Algarve: GNR record 230 road accidents in the last week alone
The GNR have released a statement, announcing that a whopping 230 road accidents were recorded in the Algarve last week, between July 15th and July 21st.
As a result of these 230 accidents, there were 3 deaths, 4 serious injuries and 38 minor injuries.
517 traffic violations were also detected, the majority of which were for speeding, resulting in 46 arrests, 18 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 11 for driving without a legal license and 9 for drug trafficking.
During this same period, the GNR also seized 165 doses of heroin, 45 of hashish and €15,860 in cash.
New troubles loom for Portugal
Portugal and other EU countries are now quietly but increasingly concerned about the prospect of Donald Trump returning as president of the United States, and “tearing Europe apart.”
Portugal has always fully endorsed the US and European countries, giving large quantities of weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s occupation.
Portugal has always fully supported the European Union, and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), of which it was a founding member.
Donald Trump says he intends to immediately end the war in Ukraine and give Russia victory, by stopping support for Ukraine. He has shown little interest in continuing America’s close bonds with the European Union, or with continuing ties with NATO.
The other main worries for Portugal and the rest of Europe are that the US will side firmly with Israel, rather than a two-state solution with Palestine. Furthermore, there could be complications in the billions of dollars/euros cross-Atlantic trade relations, and efforts to counter the climate crisis.
The good news in recent days has been that representatives from Portugal and 50 other European countries attended a private summit in England, in which the newly elected British prime minister vowed to “reset” relations with the EU shattered by Brexit.
Also, the moderate Ursula Von der Leyen has been voted by a substantial majority to serve a second term as president of the EU Commission. The former Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, is now well entrenched as president of the EU Council. And in Portugal, the main opposition centre-left Socialist Party has proposed having negotions with the new centre-right government “in good faith” about next year’s budget.
However, the Europe being “torn apart” prediction is likely to be of increasing worry for Portugal, and the rest of the continent. “This is the moment most of Europe’s leaders hoped they would never see,” reports the much respected American digital news company Politico. “The date is November 7, 2024.”
The Politico report continued: “The former reality TV star’s return to power would not only be the biggest test in transatlantic relations in post-war history, but it could also pose an existential risk to European unity, as the tensions over how to work with the world’s most powerful country pull the continent apart”.
Written by guest writer, Len Port
