Ground-breaking machine in Portugal presented for the first time at Expoflorestal
REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais will present a ground-breaking machine in forest cleaning and fire prevention - the RAPTOR 300. The initiative falls within the scope of Expoflorestal, which begins today and continues until 19 May, in Albergaria-a-Velha.
REN has acquired five RAPTOR 300 machines, which will enable an improvement in the forestry and fuel management activities, with greater efficiency in protecting forests against fires.
According to João Gaspar, head of REN's Easements and Assets area, 'The use of machines using innovative technologies will result in greater productivity in forest cleaning'. At the same time, 'We are enhancing our infrastructure as an asset in preventing and fighting forest fires. By keeping the corridors clean, we are providing the multiple civil protection agents, namely the Fire Brigade, with better opportunities to fight fires', he added.
Within the context of REN's policy of protecting forests against fires, several actions have already been implemented, such as donating vehicles to Volunteer Firefighters and to the fire prevention teams of several municipalities in the country.
Moreover, extensive work has been carried out with the help of over 200 workers - REN's service providers in the forestry area - with an investment of more than six million euros in 2018. The result has been the cleaning of over 22,000 hectares, the equivalent of 22,000 football stadiums, in the past four years. In its commitment to the future, REN's goal this year is to clean 10% more land than in 2018, and over the next few years REN plans to clean an overall area always exceeding 7,000 ha/year.