Speech by the President of the Government - Communication

Full text of the speech delivered today by the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, in Ponta Delgada at the opening ceremony of the São Miguel Energy Recovery Plant:

 

"It is with a great sense of mission and pride that today we officially start operating the São Miguel Island Energy Recovery Plant - an infrastructure that symbolises the transition of the Azores to a more sustainable, circular and resilient development model, despite the critical stance of some over the last few years.

 

This opening marks the culmination of years of planning, investment and commitment to a greater cause: the environmental future of our Region.

 

We are talking about a benchmark infrastructure, designed to the highest technical and environmental standards, with an investment of more than 86 million Euros, which complements an integrated waste management system specifically designed for the reality of our largest island.

As of today, with São Miguel ECOPARK, an investment of more than 120 million euros, we are definitely entering a new era in waste management.

 

In São Miguel, what was previously discarded and deposited in a landfill will now be transformed into energy, a valuable resource.

 

This investment received Community funding amounting to 68 million euros: 47 million from PO-SEUR and 21 million from Azores 2030.

 

Long-term bank loans amounting to 27 million Euros were taken out, with the remainder of the investment coming from own funds.

 

The Energy Recovery Plant, together with the units already in operation - mechanical processing, biological processing and sorting - ensures that we fully meet the European targets for 2025, namely:

 

This is an unprecedented achievement in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. And this is no accident.

 

It is the result of a clear and determined strategy defined by the Autonomous Region of the Azores several years ago, but now reinforced and updated by the Government of the Azores.

 

Now, it is all done in line with PEPGRA 20+, i.e. the Azores Strategic Waste Management Plan, approved in 2023.

 

A strategy that includes more than 60 measures to be implemented by 2030, and which has been implemented with rigour, ambition and, above all, results.

 

It was also in this context that the Agenda for the Region's Circular Economy was born, approved earlier this year, along with specific initiatives:

 

The Guide to Good Practices for Circular Events, the "Circular Event" Label, the Azores Circularity Digital Platform, and the pilot projects that directly involved all our municipalities, such as the packaging deposit system and the collection of coffee capsules.

 

What stands out in all this array of regulations, institutional cooperation with local authorities, private companies and, above all, citizens, is a strong commitment to training and raising awareness among everyone, with effective joint action, supported by a technical simulator adapted to the local reality for implementing the systems:

 

Pay according to the amount of waste produced (PAYT).

 

Separate waste at the time of disposal (SAYT).

 

Recycle when disposed of, promoting immediate recycling (RAYT).

 

These systems have the common goal of making waste management more efficient, fair and sustainable, promoting individual and collective responsibility towards the environment.

 

As far as infrastructure is concerned, the Waste Processing Centres on six islands were refurbished and modernised, with an investment of 6.1 million Euros. This year,  a new procedure was launched to modernise recycling processes by installing new equipment as well as sorting and separation lines on five islands, with a planned investment of three million Euros.

 

Pilot projects such as the Deposit System for Non-Reusable Packaging resulted in the collection of more than 20 million units between 2022 and 2025, with the awarding of a prize to citizens totalling one million Euros. We also created a system for the collection and forwarding of coffee capsules in conjunction with the 19 Azorean municipalities and RECAPS.

 

Between 2021 and 2023, recycling in the Azores grew by around 17%, reaching a rate of preparation for reuse and recycling of 36.4% in 2023 and, according to preliminary data, 48% in 2024.

 

The 55% target for 2025 has thus almost been reached, and has already been achieved on the island of São Miguel. The diversion of waste from landfills improved significantly, from 40% in 2023 to 24% in 2024.

 

This development was driven by the start-up of the Mechanical and Biological Processing Centres, notably at the São Miguel Ecopark.

 

None of this would have been possible without a shared vision of the future between the government, municipalities, waste operators and civil society.

 

Therefore, I would like to offer a word of thanks to MUSAMI, for the technical and operational management of this extremely complex project, but also to the municipalities of São Miguel Island, the parish councils, the staff of environmental infrastructures, and all those who work in waste management daily - with professionalism, dedication and a sense of public service.

 

I would also like to thank the Azorean population, as they have shown a growing commitment to good sorting and recycling practices. The paradigm shift can only be achieved if it is done with the people and by the Azoreans.

 

I trust in this path and attitude.

 

Today, this plant goes into operation. Rather than connecting a system, we are connecting a commitment: to sustainability, innovation and respect for our natural heritage.

 

The fears that have been dramatically exaggerated about this energy recovery project in São Miguel are unfounded.

 

At a time when there is so much discussion about the future of the planet, the Azores have shown that it is possible to be at the forefront of the ecological transition, even from a remote and dispersed island territory like ours.

 

This plant represents clean energy, a reduction in emissions, the recovery of resources and energy autonomy. Above all, it represents a more ambitious future for the Azores.

 

Demonstrating the capacity to fulfil and implement challenging sustainable development targets. We are truly a sustainable archipelago.

 

Starting today, in São Miguel, we are demonstrating that waste can be part of the solution - when it is managed with vision, rigour and responsibility.

 

This is the path that the Regional Government will continue to follow: a path of sustainability, environmental progress and commitment to forthcoming generations.

 

Thank you very much."