Gradually, the deadlines are being met for Santa Cruz de Tenerife to reclaim the land that once accommodated the most dominant industry ever established in the municipality, providing employment and prosperity for its residents for many years.
However, the Refinery, established by the Spanish Petroleum Company, SA (Cepsa) on the outskirts of the Tenerife capital, eventually succumbed to being engulfed by a city constrained territorially, only able to expand towards its southeast. Technological advancements and pollution issues stemming from them led to the demise of this hydrocarbon treatment plant, the first of its kind in Spain.
As reported by DIARIO DE AVISOS, Cepsa has applied for three licenses (granted by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council) to dismantle the most intricate and striking units of the Chicharrera Refinery.
The first license entails the dismantling of the Merox unit (mercaptan oxidation process to remove mercaptans from refined products like kerosene and aviation fuel) and the cooling tower.
The second license covers the removal of the iconic crude oil tanks 508, 509, and 510, visible to all who enter or leave the capital, particularly from the North and South directions.
The third license, currently in progress, aims to dismantle the visbreaker units, Hydrodesulfurization 1, Cotesa, Central Térmica, and the demineralization plant. These units include a lighter form of thermal cracking to reduce the viscosity of vacuum waste.
In a statement to this publication, the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, confirmed that “the Refinery’s dismantling and decontamination are ongoing. The process is complex and slow, but the progress continues towards achieving Santa Cruz Verde 2030, a vision for a new sustainable city in Santa Cruz de Tenerife,” he emphasized.
Historical Background
Cepsa was established on September 26, 1929, initially holding concessions in Venezuela. Just a year later, the company planned the construction of its “Tenerife” Refinery to cater to present and future concessions. The chosen location was far from the urban centre of Santa Cruz in the 1930s, requiring passage through paths bordered by existing banana plantations along Avenida de los Catholic Monarchs or a significant part of La Salle.
The launch of the Refinery was a significant event for Santa Cruz society, marking the establishment of the most prominent industry in the Canary Islands at that time. At its peak, around 1,700 families benefitted from the generated salaries, both directly from Cepsa employees and from businesses linked to the refinery’s products on the island. The Refinery workers also enjoyed the benefits brought by food and textile commissaries, alongside investments in neighbourhoods like Buenos Aires during a period where shantytowns predominated in Los Llanos and El Cabo.
