What changes for holidaymakers and residents?
The eleven pylons and the overhead line will disappear from the Parque Natural Dunas de Corralejo in the municipality of La Oliva. The line crosses the protected area from east to west and runs as far as the RIU hotels, as reported by Canarian News.
For visitors, the removal mainly means an unspoilt landscape in the dunes. The pylons and lines are visible from a distance and currently shape the view across the nature reserve. After the removal, the open dune landscape will remain without this technical infrastructure.
The published information does not mention any new fees, applications or access requirements for visitors. No specific beach closures, restricted times or diversions during the works have been published either, according to the available information.
Why is the line being removed?
The natural park is part of the protected Red Natura 2000 area. The Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales (PORN) prohibits overhead lines in this area, as Canarian News reports. A change to the PORN is currently being processed by the Cabildo.
The Cabildo president Lola García and the spatial planning councillor Nereida Calero stressed the need to protect ecosystems and land use, according to Canarian News. Such practices are currently prohibited in the planning guidelines.
The removal concerns old infrastructure that is no longer needed after the construction of the new 132-kV line. The available information does not mention any change to the electricity supply for Corralejo or the RIU hotels.
How will the works be carried out?
The works must be carried out using existing roads and surfaced tracks. No new access routes or paths may be created, as the Cabildo stipulated, according to Canarian News.
If soil or vegetation is damaged in specific places, Edistribución Redes Digitales S.L.U. must restore the affected areas. The company belongs to the Endesa group.
For the whole island project, a maximum period of 18 months applies for the complete removal. Electricity transmission is to remain secured via the new 132-kV double line, as stipulated by the Dirección General de Energía.
What is the wider context?
For the whole island project, the Dirección General de Energía approved the removal of 344 pylons over more than 93 kilometres in La Oliva, Puerto del Rosario, Antigua, Tuineje and Pájara.
Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. is the authorised project promoter for the overall project.
What environmental conditions apply?
The management plan for the Corralejo natural park from 2006 requires new power lines to be laid underground and routed along existing roads or infrastructure. The removal of decommissioned overhead lines is also envisaged once replacement infrastructure is available.
The works must comply with environmental conditions. According to background research, this includes preserving selected pylons identified as roosting or nocturnal gathering sites for the endangered Egyptian vulture, also known as the guirre.
The Cabildo stipulated that the removal must use existing paths. In the event of local damage to soil or vegetation, Edistribución must restore the areas.
What remains open?
For the section in the Corralejo dunes, no specific start date, duration or cost in euros has been published so far. No detailed work schedule is available either, according to the available information.
Specific visitor arrangements during the works are also not yet known. The published information does not mention any beach closures or diversions.
As a next step, Edistribución must carry out the approved works under the environmental conditions. For the overarching 66-kV project, a start was envisaged after completion of the required administrative procedures; the complete removal must take place within 18 months.