The Zubieta incinerator, who has just completed a year of smoke since its incineration in the "testing phase", has been reported again in recent days, this time on the occasion of a permit. On 19 August, the Basque Government provisionally granted the Zubieta incinerator permission for the generation of energy linked to its industrial activity. Subsequently, the transformer needed to generate energy was burned, Germany was repaired and replaced with much smaller power transformers. The processor is still unrepaired and on 15 November the Basque Government’s licence was suspended, which has already been withdrawn.

On 15 November the problem remained unresolved and although the company Ekondakin had requested the extension of this permit, it has not been extended. Faced with this situation, as several media outlets have reported these days, GuraSOS has asked the Basque Government to halt the activity of the incinerator.

Following the publication of media reports on this situation, EHBildu and Elkarrekin Gipuzkoa presented a clear request on Friday morning, stating that "an illegal incinerator must cease its activity". They reported that the Zubieta incinerator was working without the necessary permits, as reported by the Basque Department of the Interior. In addition, they requested the urgent hearing of the Environment Deputy of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and Chairman of the Waste Consortium of Gipuzkoa (GHK), José Ignacio Asensio.

Hours later, the Environment Minister and President of the GHK, José Ignacio Asensio, denied what was said by the two political actors. The incinerator assured that she had permission to energetically value the burned and incinerated.

And it seems that at that time no, but hours after appearing before the media, the Member made public the authorization of the Basque Government published by several media in the last few hours.

First deny, then allow

The Basque Government makes part of the story of what has happened in recent days. On the one hand, as has been announced these days, the previous provisional authorisation granted by Vitoria-Gasteiz to the Zubieta incinerator was suspended on 15 November. The Basque Government also acknowledges that the Ekondakine, which manages the plant, refused to extend the licence requested. "On 1 December we refused to extend the value of it, because until you receive the transformer that is in repair you cannot continue with the actions", explained the Basque Government.

But it also says: "As of September 25, 2020, the temporary installation 20-GE-X 2020-50, which replaces the previous one, has begun." The installation which has been installed on a temporary basis has been authorised. The Basque Government is calling for it to be dismantled in the next six months. As the documents have already been submitted, the Basque Government says that they "can start the installation".

Here, the Territorial Delegation of Gipuzkoa of the Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment of the Basque Government adopted the following agreement on 4 December:

High voltage installations

On 2 December 2020, a new interim start-up report for the original high-voltage installation of the 20-AT-J 2018-1 dossier has been requested, making the time-limit for its receipt, installation and time for the tests requested conditional.

On 15 November, the validity of the previous provisional minutes of 19 August was suspended and the extension of the minutes on 1 December was refused, since the proceedings cannot be continued until the processor is in repair.

We inform you that, until such time as repair is available, the necessary certifications are tested and available, the original installation of the 20-AT-J 2018-1 dossier, currently out of service, does not require the interim start-up report.

In any event, starting on 25 September 2020, the 20-GE-X 2020-50 temporary facility has been launched, replacing the previous one.

The provisions of paragraph IV of Decree 48/2020 of 31 March apply. This Decree regulates the procedures for the administrative authorisation of installations for the production, transport and distribution of electricity.

In this case, we understand that the administrative conditions for the installation are the same as the installations of the third group, the temporary installations.

Therefore, Article 21 states that, once the necessary documentation has been submitted, you can start the installation.

Once the 20-GEX-2020-50 dossier has been resolved, this Territorial Delegation will proceed to issue the start-up report for that temporary installation.

We also inform you that Article 22 stipulates that, subject to duly justified exceptions, temporary installations must be dismantled within a maximum period of six months and communicated within a maximum period of five days to the Directorate responsible for energy.

Attentively,

Donostia-San Sebastián, 4 December 2020