MEMBERS


Madeira

AREAM - Agência Regional de Energia e Ambiente da Região Autónoma da Madeira
Madeira Tecnopolo
P - 9000 Funchal
Tel: ++ 351/ 2 91 72 33 00
Fax: ++ 351/ 2 91 72 00 33
Web site : http://www.aream.pt

President: Pedro Ferreira
Manager: José Manuel Melim Mendes
Contact: Felipe Oliveira


Agência Regional de Energia e Ambiente da Região Autónoma da Madeira (AREAM) is a non-profitmaking association, with private status, having as the main purpose to promote the rational use of energy and the protection of the environment, namely by supporting technically and scientifically the local and regional authorities, as well by developing projects and studies in these areas, involving the energy producers and users.

Historically, after being adopted by the Regional Government, the Energy Plan of Madeira (PERAM), an implementation structure (NIPERAM) was created and has contribute to catalyse many actions, namely the valorisation of local energy resources, by the awareness and information of the main actors in this field.

The intervention fields of AREAM concerns, specially, to the energy and environmental planning, promotion of the rational use of energy, valorisation of the resources and environment protection, designated through:

  • Regional planning on energy and environment.

  • Studies and projects in the transports sector, in particular of the urban transports, with the meaning to reduce the energy consumption and attenuate the impact on the environment and to enrich the quality of life.

  • Studies and projects about solid wastes, concerning its energy valorisation and environment impact.

  • Promotion of actions aiming to promote the rational use of energy, specially electricity on the tertiary sector (public buildings and hotels) and domestic sector.

  • Technical and scientific support to the Regional Government and other public or private entities on the environment and energetic areas.

  • Technical cooperation with similar services of the European Union and participation in cooperation projects and inter-regional networks.

  • Promotion of professional training about energy and environment.

Autonomous Region of Madeira

Região Autónoma da Madeira (Autonomous Region of Madeira) is an archipelago composed by two inhabited islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) and the Desertas and Selvagens islets - without permanent population. It is located 800 km off the coast of Africa, 980 km from Lisbon and 850 km far from Azores.

The territory is 797 sq.km and the permanent population is approximately 260 000 inhabitants, with an additional non-resident population of about 12000 people, during the year. The global demographic density is about 325 inhabitants per sq.km and nearly half of the population is concentrated in the Funchal urban area, that is the unique city of Madeira.

The GDP has showed quite a high growth during the past few years, although it is not high as that of the Portuguese Mainland's GDP per inhabitant. In 1990, the Madeiran GDP per inhabitant (estimative: 7 925 PPS) was about 76% of the Portuguese Mainland's GDP and about 43% comparing with the European Union average.

The main economic activities of Madeira are concentrated into the tertiary sector, namely, tourism, transports, communications and other services, representing about 55% of the total GDP. The agriculture and fishing are also important, about 15% of GDP, but this sector is progressively decreasing. The agriculture is traditional and mostly for own consumption due to the very hard orography, however there are some important products for exportation, like Madeira Wine and banana, having some problems now because of the market competition and rules. The regional transforming industry is not very strong (about 10% of GDP) and is mostly food industry for local consumption and workmanship (embroideries, wicker works). The construction is more relevant than transforming industry (about 14% ofGDP) because of the fast economic development in these last years.