Lola García and CC Defend Their Push to Relocate the El Charco Plant

Lola García, president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, and her party Coalición Canaria – Asamblea Majorera (CC‑AM) responded to a request from the Popular Party (PP) and to the objections raised by the Canary Islands Ministry of Ecological Transition concerning the relocation of the El Charco thermal power plant to Zurita.

Background

García affirmed that both the Cabildo and the island’s municipalities have “done their homework” to advance a technically and urbanistically viable proposal. She reminded that the institutions submitted formal objections to the Ministry’s energy competition to prevent the El Charco area from remaining a preferred site.

She also noted that the Puerto del Rosario City Council has offered land in Zurita for future energy facilities, in line with the current urban plan.

These statements follow the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy’s objections to the draft 2030 Electric Transmission Network Plan, which request the construction of a substation in Zurita to make the plant’s relocation feasible. The minister responsible, Mariano H. Zapata (PP), said the aim is “to accelerate the dismantling of the El Charco thermal plant.”

From the PP of Fuerteventura, President Jéssica de León and island spokesperson Claudio Gutiérrez urged the Cabildo and the city council to join the objections, calling for institutional coordination.

Allegations Presented and Prior Work in Madrid

The CC‑AM group in Puerto del Rosario emphasized that the island’s institutions have been demanding a solution for years and that joint objections from the City Council and the Cabildo have already been filed with the Ministry of Industry and the Canary Government, urging that Zurita be included in the national energy planning as a viable and sustainable alternative.

Key actions highlighted by CC‑AM include:

• A formal request to the State for dismantling and relocation of the plant.
• The unanimous adoption of an institutional motion by the City Council.
• The preparation of technical and legal reports rejecting any expansion of the existing facilities due to urban incompatibility.
• Ongoing advocacy by Congresswoman Cristina Valido, who has defended the relocation and the strengthening of Fuerteventura’s electricity system at the national level.

“We have presented joint objections to both the Ministry of Industry and the Canary Government, demanding that Zurita be incorporated into the state energy plan as a viable alternative.” – CC‑AM statement

Popular Party “Arrives Late” and “We Are Glad”

CC‑AM criticized the PP’s timing, stating that the party “arrives late to a work we have led from day one.” The relocation is portrayed not as a new initiative but as a priority since the beginning of the legislative term, driven by local and island governments.

“We are glad that, although delayed, the PP now joins the cause.” – CC‑AM comment

Lola García Calls for Depoliticisation

García stressed that for the first time a mayor and the Cabildo president have sat with the Ministry to unblock the situation and move forward with a viable technical‑urban proposal.

“For the first time, a mayor and a Cabildo president have sat with the Ministry to unlock this situation and advance a technically and urbanistically viable proposal.” – Lola García

She reiterated that Zurita is already permitted in the General Plan of Puerto del Rosario, and that the municipality has offered land to the company that will win the new tender for the island’s energy supply.

García lamented attempts to politicise a struggle that has been, for decades, the fight of the entire community, emphasizing that Fuerteventura does not need headlines but coordination and joint effort among administrations to permanently remove the plant from El Charco and move toward a modern, sustainable, citizen‑respectful energy model.

“We do not need headlines; we need coordination and joint work to get the plant out of El Charco and advance toward a modern, sustainable, citizen‑respectful energy model.” – Lola García

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The article outlines the ongoing debate over the relocation of the El Charco thermal power plant, highlighting the positions of the Cabildo, local municipalities, the Popular Party, and the regional government.