The State approves the MAT from Teruel to Begues, which will cross 40 Catalan municipalities

2023-08-02 18:04:21

TarragonaThe Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has given prior authorization to the Aragonese company Forestalia to go ahead with the controversial high voltage line (MAT) that must cross the middle of Catalonia, according to the ACN. The permit has been published in the BOE and is a step forward so that one day this line will be built, which will bring energy from Teruel to Begues, in the metropolitan area of ​​Barcelona, ​​through 182.2 km , passing through 40 Catalan municipalities.

Despite this, the text specifies that in order for the final construction permit to be granted, the approval of the Generalitat is required, which has already produced two unfavorable reports so far. Due to the characteristics of the line – 400 kV and affecting more than one autonomous community – the State government should have the final say, but the ministry does not want to go ahead without the authorization of The Generalitat. Sources from the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda have denounced that “the State is not assuming its responsibility” and have asked that, if the Government has to decide, this competence be transferred to them. So far, the Generalitat has already made two unfavorable reports, claiming that they lacked information to be able to approve the environmental impact report. Now, he has the ball on the roof again.

This very high voltage line has caused suspicions from the beginning. Several town councils, regional councils, the deputations of Tarragona and Barcelona and the General Directorate of Energy of the Generalitat have issued unfavorable reports and environmental groups such as GEPEC have submitted allegations. In fact, the Senate itself, with the support of the PSOE, ERC, Junts and Teruel Existe, had approved a resolution to “deny the authorization” of this line and the Minister of Energy Transition, Teresa Ribera, admitted in 2021 that this project “had no logic and was disproportionate”.

The line, which wants to transport energy from a photovoltaic plant that will be called Jaime I and will be in Valmuel (Terol), is driven by Energías Renovables de Ormonde 36, SL, which depends on the giant Forestalia, an Aragonese multinational renewable energy company.