Biogas plant plans in El Mirador continue despite local opposition
The San Javier biomethane project has been revised to exclude the use of pig slurry
Plans to build a biomethane plant in the village of El Mirador are continuing to move through the permitting process, according to Enagás Renovables. The company has confirmed that it is revising the project design following requests from San Javier Town Council and strong opposition from local groups.
Enagás says it is modifying the proposal to avoid the use of pig slurry. However, the company has not ruled out the use of other livestock waste in the future.
A spokesperson explained that the type of waste used as feedstock has not been fixed and that while there are no pig farms in the municipality, there is sheep farming in the area. This waste could potentially be processed at the plant as organic material.
The company also acknowledges that it does not currently operate any biogas plants that rely exclusively on plant based waste. According to Enagás, the project is still under review at both local and regional level and it intends to continue seeking the necessary approvals to build the plant on a 77,000 square metre plot of land close to El Mirador.
The proposed location is near several residential areas and it’s already caused uproar among local residents. This week, neighbours held a meeting to celebrate the rejection of a similar biomethane project planned by the same company in Torres de Cotillas. In that case, the local council decided to shelve the proposal after a public consultation showed overwhelming opposition.
The Stop Biogas Mar Menor platform says Enagás has not met with those affected by the project and is calling for a meeting with both the developers and municipal representatives. The group warns that even if slurry is excluded from the current proposal, this could change later. According to the platform, once permits are granted, slurry could be added through a simple administrative procedure.
San Javier mayor José Miguel Luengo reiterated that the project as originally presented to the Town Council has been ruled out. He said that any modified version would need to be examined very carefully and would only be approved if it was clearly beneficial and caused no harm to the municipality. If those conditions are not met, he said, it will not go ahead.
Mayor Luengo also dismissed the idea of holding a public consultation, arguing that it is the responsibility of the San Javier Council to assess projects and reject those that are not in the public interest. Even with possible changes, he said he doesn’t see the project as viable. In his view, San Javier doesn’t have enough livestock activity to justify a biogas plant and the municipality will not accept waste from other areas.
The mayor also pointed to a loss of interest from agricultural companies, which were originally expected to benefit from the plant by solving waste disposal issues and gaining access to some of the energy produced.
Despite this, the Stop Biogas platform continues to oppose the project and has renewed its call for a public referendum, a request it plans to raise at every monthly plenary session.
For the project to move forward, it must pass scrutiny by the regional government and receive a declaration of public utility from the Town Council, as it would be built on rural land. If it clears that stage, it would still need to secure the required construction and operating permits.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Image: Stop Biogás Mar Menor
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