A large working meeting was held with a delegation from FEPECO, led by our president Oscar Izquierdo, including 16 entrepreneurs, with the Mayor of Güímar, Gustavo Pérez, Haridian Martín, Councillor for Social Services, Education and Youth, and Jorge García, Councillor for Commerce, Gardens and Waste, to review ongoing tenders that will address current needs without compromising the capacity of future generations.
This also included the positive impact of the recent acquisition of public land for the strategic housing development of the municipality, which unlocks current projects with favourable repercussions for sustainable and stable development over time in the City of Güímar.
The good management carried out by the City Council in coordination with the Housing Division of the Cabildo Insular of Tenerife and the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI) of the Government of the Canary Islands was highlighted, particularly for tendering nearly 80 social rental homes.
These tenders will be promoted by the private sector to ensure the best options compete, making it one of the first and most committed municipalities in Tenerife in seeking housing solutions for the lack of accommodation.
Another key topic discussed was the importance of having municipal-owned land to promote key projects for the municipality’s development, including infrastructure, social facilities, mobility, and economic development, as well as comprehensive community amenities.
The mayor emphasised the significance of executing this management “thanks to a sound economic situation that allows us to act with autonomy and responsibility.” In this sense, he stated: “Today we can proudly say that this City Council has zero debt and more than 10 million euros in surplus.
This financial strength has enabled us to acquire public land without resorting to borrowing, unlocking key projects that will improve the lives of the residents of Güímar. Local government is an engine of investment and planning.”
FEPECO called for the municipality, as a regional leader and central location in Tenerife, to immediately commence execution for ensuring energy and electrical systems on the island, just as is being done in Gran Canaria with the reversible hydroelectric plant Soria-Chira, now referred to as “Güímar Hydro,” in the barranco area, which would also serve for environmental recovery.
The importance of a reversible pumping plant lies in its ability to store renewable energy, especially generated by intermittent sources like solar and wind. These plants act as large-scale batteries, pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper one when there is excess energy and releasing it to generate electricity when demand is high or renewable production is low. The reversible pumping station in Güímar must be given absolute priority by the Government of Canarias, Cabildo, City Council, and Spanish Electricity Network, to ensure energy and electrical security in Tenerife and to avoid potential widespread blackouts.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue close collaboration between the City Council and the construction sector and industry to promote initiatives that energise the economy and generate a prosperous, balanced, and sustainable future.
