Ecological Transition blocks dismantling of five units at El Charco plant

Endesa claims that both the Canary Government and the grid block the dismantling

Endesa says it intends to dismantle Diesel Groups 1 to 5 at the Las Salinas Power Plant (El Charco, Puerto del Rosario). The company’s request for the necessary permits was rejected by the Canary Islands’ Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Last year, Endesa formally asked the ministry for authorisation to declare 13 generating units in three island thermal plants unavailable. The utility’s statement notes that every request was denied, preventing the removal of the old units and their replacement with newer, more efficient equipment.

According to Endesa, the affected groups have far exceeded their useful life and no longer meet the conditions for optimal operation. The company’s plan, once approved, was to dismantle the facilities linked to each production unit and replace the lost capacity with innovative projects that would improve the environmental performance of each plant.

Government says it cannot be changed due to energy risk

“The analysis is clear: the engines are obsolete, but they are the ones we have. We cannot retire them until we have alternative energy to replace them, especially in a context of deficit where we are installing emergency groups,” explained Alberto Hernández, the autonomous community’s Director General of Energy.