Los Realejos Council Rejects Proposed DISA Emergency Power Plant

The dispute over a proposed emergency power plant in Los Realejos has turned into a complex institutional standoff. The local government, led by Mayor Adolfo González, has officially rejected plans by the company DISA to build the facility at the La Gañanía industrial estate. The project is currently stalled, as it still lacks the required environmental approvals from the regional government.

The conflict centers on the project’s status as an "emergency" measure to prevent power outages, which places its technical and financial oversight directly under the national Ministry for the Ecological Transition. While the local council—including the PP, PSOE, and CC—previously voted to move the site from La Zamora to La Gañanía, residents living near the new location are strongly opposed. The city council has now decided to back those residents.

Mayor González clarified that the City Council does not have the legal authority to approve or block the plant, but he intends to act as a mediator for the community. His administration plans to pressure the national Ministry, lobby the Canary Islands government, and open a direct dialogue with DISA. The council is also pushing for more sustainable alternatives, such as battery storage, to avoid the environmental and social risks associated with transporting and storing gas.

This situation highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining a stable national power grid and protecting local communities. While opposition members have questioned the transparency of the process, the current government maintains that it has consistently opposed any project that lacks neighborhood support and fails to meet strict sustainability standards. For now, the future of the "Tigaiga" project remains uncertain as it awaits regional permits.