Faro, Portugal, May 4, 2026 (Lusa) - The former owner of the land expropriated to build a desalination plant in Albufeira, in Portugal's Algarve region, has filed an application for an injunction against the building permit, with immediate suspensive effect, it was announced on Monday.

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

Teresa Fernandes, spokesperson for Águas do Algarve, the project developer, confirmed to Lusa that the company has already been notified of the injunction filed by Seacliff, the former owner of the land where the Algarve Seawater Desalination Plant is to be built.

“We are currently analysing in detail the terms of the initial petition submitted to the TAF in Loulé by the representative of the company, so that, as opposing parties, we may present our defence in a clear and unequivocal manner, leaving the decision on this matter to the courts,” reads a written response sent to Lusa.

Under the legal framework, the interim injunction takes immediate effect, suspending work on the desalination plant, following the summons of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and Águas do Algarve.

"Águas do Algarve and the APA will have the opportunity to respond to the injunction, as well as to argue – as they certainly will – for the public interest of the project, just as they have done on other occasions. Seacliff will, of course, not fail to respond to this defence of the alleged public interest of this project," concludes the former owner of the expropriated land.

JPC/LYT // AYLS

Lusa