Marvão, Portugal, Aug. 19 2026 (Lusa) – The Alto Alentejo Intermunicipal Community (CIMAA) has approved the creation of a working group to oversee the transfer of the Portuguese Air Force's (FAP) Alcochete Firing Range to Alter do Chão, in the district of Portalegre.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the CIMAA explained that the organisation's intermunicipal council approved the creation of the Intermunicipal Working Group to Monitor the Air Force Firing Range at its most recent meeting, held in Marvão on 13 August.
Given the «supra-municipal nature of the infrastructure and the possibility that its impacts may extend beyond the municipality of Alter do Chão», the statement reads, the community decided to set up this working group to monitor «the possible transfer».
The new body, the inter-municipal community said, will «ensure coordination between the CIMAA and the municipalities potentially affected».
The group's main job, it emphasised, «would be to monitor the process, share information and analyse the studies and details that may be made available, particularly with regard to the possible territorial, environmental, economic and social impacts» of this FAP facility.
At the same meeting, during which it examined the possible establishment of the Air Force Firing Range in Alter do Chão, the CIMAA considered that it is still awaiting the «objective conditions» to «adopt or commit to an institutional position regarding the project».
«The CIMAA therefore reaffirms that any future position must result from consultation with the municipalities potentially affected and be based on a technical, transparent and duly substantiated assessment,» it said.
According to the inter-municipal association, there is, as yet, «insufficient technical, territorial, environmental, economic and social information» regarding the project.
It also pointed out that, on 18 May, it sent a request for clarification to the Ministry of National Defence and is awaiting a reply.
On 11 March, the minister of defence, Nuno Melo, announced the selection of Alter do Chão to host the FAP firing range, as the current one will close due to the construction of the new Lisbon airport.
The range, also known as the Alcochete Firing Range (due to its proximity to this town), is mainly located in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente (district of Santarém), with a small part situated in the parish of Canha, in the municipality of Montijo (district of Setúbal).
At the time of the announcement, the government provided limited details on the exact location of the firing range within the municipality of Alter do Chão, or whether it would extend into neighbouring municipalities. However, according to the minister of defence, the site will cover approximately 7,500 hectares.
Meanwhile, a citizens' movement has been formed to oppose this relocation, comprising mainly farmers, landowners and agricultural workers from the municipalities of Crato, Alter do Chão, Monforte and Fronteira – areas which may be affected, according to a map to which the group claims to have had access.
At the end of July, the Association for the Future of Upper Alentejo (APFAA) also announced its formation; this group likewise supports alternative solutions for the FAP firing range and has requested clarification from the Government.
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