SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Feb. 9. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of the Canary Islands’ Minister of Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Hernández Zapata, revealed on Friday the department’s goal to award the additional electrical power projects for Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura by the end of the first quarter of the year.
Answering a question from the Socialist Group in the parliamentary committee, he highlighted that out of a total of 33 proposals from 15 companies, seven in Gran Canaria, five in Tenerife, and three in Fuerteventura have been chosen, totalling 120, 80, and 50 megawatts, respectively.
He expressed the desire to “accelerate deadlines,” but stressed the importance of not making hasty decisions, and mentioned that the department is currently awaiting cost studies from the companies to be sent to the Ministry of Ecological Transition and cooperate with the councils to determine the equipment locations.
Additionally, he stated that there is already progress in the management audit of all electricity generation equipment in the islands but emphasized the priority of allocating emergency equipment.
The counselor acknowledged that the energy emergency has been known since 2021 due to reports from Red Eléctrica, the system operator, and noted that the “fragmentation” of the proposals necessitates further extensions of the deadlines.
The new equipment primarily needs to be installed in the North and Northeast areas, where the main consumption is located, and the proposals mainly consist of combustion engines and gas turbines using diesel and propane as the most offered fuels, in addition to biogas produced in a waste landfill mixed with green hydrogen.
Alicia Vanoostende (PSOE) recognized the complexity of the process and questioned the prolonged timeline, expressing confusion over the signing of an emergency declaration to expedite deadlines and the absence of bidding for the works. She demanded clarity on the urgency and the reason for the delay.
The deputy urged the Canary Islands Government for “consistency and promptness” in decision-making and requested that the Ministry’s technicians meet with the members of the parliamentary commission to explain the project details.
