Red Eléctrica postpones low‑voltage line removal until next year
The Cabildo received Red Eléctrica, which has postponed the removal of the 66 kV line between Corralejo and Matas Blancas, pushing the dismantling of 352 towers to early next year.
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura held a meeting on Thursday, 9 September, with representatives of Red Eléctrica to review the roadmap for dismantling the former 66 kV transmission line and to convey it to the island’s municipalities.
The dismantling of the line from Corralejo (north) to Matas Blancas (south) will occur once the new 132 kV double‑circuit line is in service and the necessary administrative authorisations for removing the old line are obtained—a process that, in a previous statement, had been slated for the end of this year.
Red Eléctrica is preparing the work in compliance with the Environmental Impact Statement for the 132 kV line and is coordinating the effort with the Cabildo, according to a statement issued after the meeting. The company has also met with the mayors of the municipalities along the route to explain the procedure and will inform landowners jointly with the Cabildo and other administrations.
A Cabildo Demand Rooted in the Past
“As soon as we formed the new governing team, the island corporation demanded that the obligation to remove the 66 kV line be fulfilled,” said island president Lola García.
“We have several meetings with Red Eléctrica; now we ask for a clear roadmap to be shared with all local administrations and for the line that crosses the entire island—affecting territory and landscape—to be removed once and for all,” García added.
Planning councilor Nereida Calero emphasized the need for environmental respect:
“It is essential to guarantee that the dismantling is carried out with maximum respect for the environment and that the entire installed infrastructure is removed.”
The meeting also included Tuineje mayor Canderaria Umpiérrez, and councilors José Díaz (Pájara) and Ana Hernández (Puerto del Rosario).
352 Towers to Be Removed Between Corralejo and Matas Blancas
Daniel Pérez Varela, director of Infrastructure for Red Eléctrica in the Canary Islands, outlined the scope:
- 352 supports will be dismantled across the municipalities of La Oliva, Puerto del Rosario, Antigua, Tuineje, and Pájara.
- Works will respect existing environmental constraints and follow preventive and corrective measures, ensuring the land is restored to its original state.
Red Eléctrica plans to start the works next year and is already organising the schedule so that construction can begin as soon as all prerequisite procedures are completed. The new 132 kV line will guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply.
Main Dismantling Activities
- Removal of the 352 supports and their conductors.
- De‑tensioning and removal of conductors and grounding wires.
- Dismantling of tower structures.
- Collection of conductors, grounding wires, and insulator chains.
- Destruction of foundations and removal of surplus civil‑work materials.
- Where applicable, removal of the bases of the former supports.
These actions will restore the affected areas to their pre‑line condition.