Miranda Advances New Water Milestones in Fuerteventura
Investment of €15 million Secured for the Puerto del Rosario Wastewater Plant and Matas Blancas Designated for the Southern Desalination Plant
The Government of the Canary Islands plans to take the final step next Monday to finance the Puerto del Rosario wastewater treatment plant with a multi‑year expenditure of €15 million, while the southern desalination plant will be anchored in Matas Blancas. The announcement was made during an interview on the program La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular by the Canary Islands’ Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water, Manuel Miranda. He warned that, although this year’s rains have eased pressure on the primary sector, Fuerteventura cannot afford to lower its guard. Miranda also expressed concern that European aid might not reach the Canary Islands directly and that the archipelago’s singular status could be overlooked.
The minister highlighted the work carried out over the past few years, dating back to 2023 when three water emergencies were declared across the Canary Islands, including on the island of Fuerteventura. According to Miranda, the balance for Fuerteventura is now positive. The island has improved its water distribution system, reservoirs, pipelines, and even its desalination plants, where investments have been made in upgrading membranes. The priority goal is to ensure that “water arrives and arrives with pressure,” a recurring demand from residents throughout the territory.
One of the key projects is the Puerto del Rosario wastewater treatment plant.
“Next Monday, in the Government Council, we will take the final step in financing the Puerto del Rosario plant,” Miranda announced, noting that the infrastructure will be re‑tariffed and approved with a multi‑annual budget of €15 million.
The importance of the project extends beyond urban and environmental benefits; it also has a direct impact on the agricultural sector of Fuerteventura. The plant will soon provide between 3,000 and 4,000 m³ of water that can be dedicated to the primary sector.
Miranda stressed that this year’s rainfall in the Canary Islands has been a relief, especially for agriculture, but it should not create a false sense of security. “We are grateful for the rain, and it does reduce pressure on the system,” he said, “but we must not lower the guard,” because climate change will continue to shape water availability in the coming years.
The other major initiative on the agenda is the southern desalination plant, described as a strategic work. The next step is its approval by the Insular Water Council, which will officially designate Matas Blancas as the site. This decision will unlock the development of the basic project and launch the lengthy process of obtaining the necessary authorizations.
The rollout will not be immediate. The drafting of the basic project, entrusted to the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, will be followed by a two‑ to three‑year period to secure permits for access, electrical connections, brine discharge, and other requirements. After a series of studies to identify the optimal location, the “seed is already planted” in Matas Blancas, allowing Fuerteventura to rely less on northern production and strengthen the southern region.
Asserting the Islands’ Uniqueness to Secure Effective Support
Manuel Miranda also voiced the government’s concern about the future of European funding for the primary sector for the 2028‑2036 period. He warned that the new EU allocation, conditioned by increased spending on defense and industry, could diminish support for essential activities in ultra‑peripheral regions such as the Canary Islands. Consequently, the administration is advocating that funds aimed at promoting the primary sector reach the Canary Islands directly from Europe, preserving the unique treatment historically afforded to the archipelago.