2018
Focus on public service
EGF implements an ambitious investment and optimization plan, functioning as a business group focused on public service and results.
2016
New EGF Brand
EGF gains a new brand and a new image, materialising a new Group strategy. This brand is taken on by all the companies, bringing greater visibility to a performance of synergy and partnership.
2015
Change in the EGF shareholder structure
Change in the EGF shareholder structure through its purchase by the Mota-Engil and Urbaser Group from the Portuguese Government, after this Group had been declared winner of the privatisation process launched by the Portuguese Government in 2013.
2010
Valorsul
The new Valorsul – Valorização e Tratamento de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos das Regiões de Lisboa e do Oeste, S.A. and the respective inter-municipal system, through the merger of Valorsul and Resioeste, were established under Decree-Law No. 68, of 15 June of 2010, for a period of 25 years.
2009
Resinorte
Establishment of Resinorte, through the merger of Rebat, Resat and Residouro, adding the municipalities belonging to Associação de Municípios do Vale do Douro Norte (AMVDN) and Associação de Municípios do Vale do Ave (AMAVE), which took over the concession of the new Inter-municipal System for the Sorting, Collection, Recovery and Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the Central North region.
2008
Resiestrela
Establishment of Resiestrela to take over the concession of the Cova da Beira MSW inter-municipal system, which was attributed to Águas do Zêzere e Coa (a company from the AdP Group), which increased to 14 the number of inter-municipal system concessionaires in the EGF Group.
2007
PERSU II and internationalisation
Publication of the new strategic sectorial plan for 2007–2016 (PERSU II) in response to challenges facing Portugal in the area of waste management, including rationalisation and optimisation of MSW management systems in terms of efficiency gains, technological capacity and sustainability.
Simultaneously, EGF starts the internationalisation process and, along with the Mozambican company, Neoquímica, won the tender for the collection of waste produced in the metropolitan area of Maputo (Mozambique) for a period of three years.
2005
Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant
In 2005, we launched +Valor (+Value) programme, the selective collection programme for organic matter implemented in large producers and carried out in Portugal for the first time. This challenge was led by Valorsul in partnership with the municipalities of Amadora, Lisbon and Loures. With the implementation of this programme, it became possible to start the testing phase of the Organic Treatment and Recovery Plant, the first anaerobic digestion facility in the country.
2002
Green waste composting plants
In 2002, Algar’s green waste composting plants start their activity, in the municipalities of Portimão and Loulé.
2001
Establishment of new companies
Another four companies were established between 2000 and 2001, in partnership with EGF and municipalities involved, to operate and manage, under a concession, four new inter-municipal MSW treatment and recovery systems (Resat, Rebat, Residouro and Valnor).
2000
Integration in Águas de Portugal Group
EGF became a sub-holding of Águas de Portugal Group for the area of waste and continued to be responsible for the management, maintenance and operation of inter-municipal MSW collection, treatment and recovery systems as well as special waste flow treatment and recovery systems.
1999
Energy Recovery Plant
The Energy Recovery Plant belonging to Valorsul, a concessionaire of EGF, begins its testing phase and starts receiving municipal waste which were until then being sent to a sanitary landfill. This Plant is then inaugurated in 2000 and presently treats and recovers 2,000 tonnes of municipal waste generated by the populations of the municipalities of Amadora, Lisbon, Loures, Odivelas and Vila Franca de Xira.
1998
The first sorting plants
The activity in the first sorting plants in Portugal begins in 1998, in Coimbra (Ersuc) and in Leiria (Valorlis). The year of 1998 is also marked by the start of the operation of seven sanitary landfills by companies in the EGF’s group: Western Algarve (Algar) in February; Mato da Cruz (Valorsul) in July; Valença (Valorminho) in August; Leiria (Valorlis) in September; Coimbra (ERSUC) in September; Figueira da Foz (ERSUC) in September; Viana do Castelo (Resulima) in December.
1997
Operation of the first sanitary landfill
With the establishment of Amarsul, continuity is given to the operation of Seixal’s Sanitary Landfill (started in 1995) and to the first Mechanical and Biological Treatment Plant, the first facilities to be operated by one of the Group’s companies.
This year, the Portuguese Government approves the Strategic Sectorial Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan (PERSU I) to encourage the creation of modern municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems, integrating adequate waste collection and treatment infrastructures. The implementation of selective packaging material collection systems for recycling was initiated, involving the installation of recycling banks ("Ecopontos"), recycling centres and sorting facilities and promoting awareness and environmental education activities.
This year, Resioeste is also created.
1995
First Mechanical and Biological Treatment Plant
The first Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) Plant starts its operation in Setúbal and will be continuously controlled by Amarsul in 1997.
Seixal’s Sanitary Landfill also starts its operation in 1995, with Amarsul again carrying out its exploitation in 1997.
1994
Award and operation of the inter-municipal systems
Decree-Law No. 294 of 16 November 1994 establishes details of the legal concession for operating and managing the inter-municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment systems. Between 1994 and 1997, some management companies are established for the EGF Group (Algar, Amarsul, Ersuc, Resioeste, Resulima, Suldouro, Valorlis, Valorminho and Valorsul).
1993
Government’s business sector
EGF was chosen by the Government, along with the recently established Águas de Portugal, S.A., to lead the corporatisation of the so-called collective environmental services (water, sanitation and solid waste). The two companies were made responsible for helping to solve problems regarding water supply, wastewater drainage and treatment and recovery of solid waste.
1976
Integration into the Instituto de Participações do Estado (State Holdings Institute)
EGF is integrated in the investment portfolio of Instituto de Participações do Estado, EP, established under Decree-Law No. 496/76. It is in this context that the company consolidates itself in the area of strategic consultancy through the study and planning of projects and support for regional governments in the preparation of municipal development plans.
1947
EGF was born
Creation of Empresa Geral do Fomento, S.A.R.L., with its head office at Rua da Prata and share capital of 5 million escudos. For two decades, EGF has been involved in the fields of study, assistance and technical and financial support services for commercial and industrial companies and ventures.