Thursday, January 14th, 2021, is the last day of activity of the thermal power plant of Sines, after 35 years in operation. Being the largest Portuguese power station, it played a strategic role in the country's energy supply and in the security of the national electricity system.
The first work front involves a prospective study of the local economy, which is being done by University of Évora in partnership with Instituto Superior Técnico. This evaluation work, which relies on the auscultation of various entities in the region, aims to identify and evaluate the most dynamic opportunities to enhance the social and economic development of that territory. It is thus intended to identify how the local economy will evolve, how the transition from employment will be, how professional qualification should be promoted, among other issues that help to anticipate measures and proposals with a positive impact on Sines.
A second work front involves the creation of a Gabinete Local de Encaminhamento Social (GLES), in partnership with the City Council of Sines and the Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, which aims to extend, at an early stage, to directly support the workers of the Sines power plant, including their families, and in the future extend this support to the rest of the population. This office, which will operate at Sines Tecnopolo, aims to help direct these people to work opportunities, training and other alternatives that can generate jobs.
With these initiatives, EDP, a partner of the GreenH2Atlantic project will maintain its connection to the territory after the closure of the Sines plant, contributing to its development and improvement through new projects. Starting from January 15, 2021, the Sines plant will start a first phase of decommissioning, and then the dismantlement, in a process that will last about five years.
• 100% of EDP workers benefited from individualized plan including reskilling/upskilling, retirement or internal mobility.
• Individualized interviews for suppliers’ workers impacted by plant closure to plan future work possibilities including reskilling/upskilling. Solar systems training was provided to 22 for these workers.
• Social investment programme with dedicated entrepreneurship programme to incubate new projects with capacity building and 2-year follow-up.
• Study conducted with two Portuguese universities to identify the main dynamics of future development in the region as well as highest opportunity employment segments.
• Creation of a local office for social action in partnership with the municipality and state employment and training services, providing psychological, employment, training and social support for workers, their families and the local community.
• Dedicated programme to strengthen local NGOs social actions and foster a more robust local community.
• Inclusion of suppliers in the impact mapping and solution designing following the powerplant closure.
• 360° approach mitigating impacts on workers, suppliers, and communities while looking out for new development opportunities.
• Fast tracked reskilling and job placements along with continuous contact and follow-up via the local office for social action.
• Close monitoring of the local context and continuous readjustments according to ongoing results.
If you want to learn more about the GreenH2Atlantic project and the involvment of EDP in the case of Sines, you can refer to these 2 articles :
- Futuro Ativo Sines Programme, Portugal
- EDP launches 'Futuro Ativo Sines' project to promote initiatives to support the region