Alcúdia unanimously approves requesting the review of the electric cable route

PalmThe full council of Alcudia approved this Thursday unanimously the review of the electrical interconnection project and, specifically, the landing point of the second link after intense protests from the association of those affected by the route that is already being processed, ANACA. The decision comes after months of intense debate and when an agreement had already been reached months ago by all the administrations involved to define the definitive terrestrial route of the second electrical link between the Balearic Islands and the Peninsula.

Thus, Alcudia has now voted to review what it approved in the year 2025 when it was announced that the entrance would be through La Ferradura, thanks to a consensus between the Government, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the Consell de Mallorca, the Alcudia City Council, Red Eléctrica, and the platform of Alcudia Neighbors Affected by the Cable (VAAC). At that time, it was stated that the route would reduce its passage through residential areas by 67% thanks to the provision of roads and public thoroughfares.

But this Thursday the motion, presented by MÉS, PSIB, El Pi, Unides Podem, and the non-attached councilor Juan Antonio Mateu, has achieved political unanimity to reopen the analysis of the route and consider alternatives to the current proposal, which foresees the entrance through the bay of Pollença. In any case, the mayor, Fina Linares (PP), took advantage of the debate to lament that the left is now bringing this issue back to the table, when there was an opportunity to express opinions on the project some time ago. In any case, the PP's vote was also in favor of the review.

This review agreement comes after months of work by the ANACA association, which has been questioning for some time whether the entrance through La Ferradura is the best option. The residents of this group valued the municipal decision this Thursday "very positively", "since now the door is opened to truly review which is the best option and the one with the least impact". ANACA has stated from the outset that the La Ferradura option has more impact than is publicly stated, and that, on the other hand, the cable's entry through the bay of Alcudia would be better.

This option is the one that supports the report commissioned by the Alcudia City Council to the Balearic Centre for Applied Biology (CBBA). This option, however, according to the company Red Eléctrica, in charge of executing the project, has up to 11 times more impact on posidonia, an element that conservationists consider key and must be taken into account. This statement is based on the extensive technical and environmental reports prepared by Red Eléctrica Española during the processing of the project.

In any case, the unanimous positioning of the full council was read this Thursday as a turning point in terms of institutional pressure and citizen mobilization. Entities such as the association of affected parties ANACA have insisted throughout the process on the need to review the project with technical and transparency criteria, and consider that the agreement reinforces this line.

The project moves forward

Meanwhile, the project continues its administrative process. Red Eléctrica recalls that it has submitted for processing —and has twice submitted for public information— the project "which strictly complies with the regulations and technical and environmental requirements demanded, this being the responsibility of the developer, also agreeing on aspects of the terrestrial route within the framework of this scrupulous respect for regulations and for technical and environmental viability," company sources affirm.

The same sources explain that "the company has been open to dialogue at all times, "as demonstrated by its involvement in the working group created —which concluded with a consensus proposal after more than a year of work—". Once the public exhibition of the project is finalized, they affirm, "Red Eléctrica will incorporate all those proposals put forward by institutions, social and environmental entities, and individuals that are feasible (again, technically, environmentally, and legally) and that improve the project".

The operator also assures that it has responded, "with technical and scientific rigor —as it must—, to the report commissioned by the city council which, furthermore, agrees that the entry through sa Ferradura is the one with the least impact on posidonia, as stated in Red Eléctrica's environmental impact study". In this response, Red Eléctrica has also clarified, "among other points, that it is not viable, at depths of up to 1,000 meters, to leave the cable deposited on the seabed", which is what the CBBA report prepared at the request of the City Council proposes. The reason for rejecting this option is because "the safety of the infrastructure and, consequently, the guarantee of supply would not be ensured," assures Red Eléctrica.

In any case, it will be the competent regional and state administrations that will decide on the final project, which for the moment continues with its process and processing.