Andalusia water infrastructure disputes

The Regional Government of Andalusia has requested an urgent meeting with the Spanish Secretary of State for the Environment to address approximately one hundred stalled hydraulic infrastructure projects.

Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, the regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, stated that these works are essential to secure water supplies and prepare for future droughts. A major point of contention is the Alcolea Dam, which the Minister described as being at a “dead end” due to a lack of progress from the central government regarding technical and budgetary updates. In addition to the Alcolea Dam, the regional government highlighted the paralysis of the Trigueros Canal and the status of the Gibralmedina and Cerro Blanco dams. To address these delays, Andalusia has proposed compensatory measures totaling 252.7 million euros should the central government decide to renounce its existing agreement to complete the Alcolea Dam.

In response to these demands, Secretary of State for the Environment Hugo Morán defended the central government’s investment pace, asserting that significant efforts have been made in water supply and sanitation over the last eight years. Morán emphasized that the Ministry is prioritizing the modernization and safety of Spain’s dam network and noted that several large-scale projects, including two desalination plants, are in the final stages of the bidding process.

Regarding flood management, Morán informed the Senate that updating flood zone maps is a complex legal and technical process requiring at least two years. He also maintained that real-time information from Aemet and hydrological authorities was available during the recent DANA event to allow administrations to take preventive measures.