The Industry Delegation of Gipuzkoa has granted i-DE permission to renew the high-voltage line in Elgoibar

The territorial delegation of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of Gipuzkoa has granted the prior administrative authorization and construction permit to the company i-DE, Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes, S.A.U. for the renovation of the 30 kV high-voltage electrical lines named Elgoibar-Lasao 1 and 2. The resolution is dated September 4, 2026, and was published in the BOPV official gazette, issue number 185, on September 28, 2026. The file number is 20-AT-Y-2026-6, and the official document reference is 2026/4022.

The resolution was signed in Donostia by the territorial delegate Antton Arrieta Insausti, and it states that the project was promoted by the company i-DE. The company submitted the request on January 19, 2026, together with the technical project signed by Pedro Cotero Alonso. The project is included in Annex II.E of Law 10/2021, of December 9, regarding the Environmental Administration of the Basque Country, and is therefore subject to the simplified environmental impact assessment procedure. On February 6, 2026, the delegation requested the environmental documentation from the company, as required by Article 45 of Law 21/2013, of December 9.

Environmental assessment process

On March 11, 2026, the delegation sent the request to the Directorate of Environmental Administration of the Basque Government, along with the technical project and environmental documentation; the file was assigned the reference EIAS-392.

• May 29, 2026: The Directorate of Environmental Administration requested an analysis of the affection caused to agricultural and forestry activities and the corresponding corrective measures, according to what is established in the PEAS.
• Since the project affects soils of High Strategic Value according to the CAPV Agriculture and Forestry PTS, a report from the competent provincial body was also requested, as provided for in Article 16 of Law 17/2008, of December 23.
• The requirement was fulfilled on June 18, 2026.

On June 30, 2026, the Resolution of the Director of Environmental Administration formulated the environmental impact report for the project, and the report was published in the BOPV official gazette on July 31, 2026. The report concludes that it is not necessary to subject the project to the ordinary environmental impact assessment procedure, provided that the protection and corrective measures and controls established in the report are adopted.

Cultural heritage report

On July 3, 2026, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa presented a report prepared by the Service of Historical-Artistic Heritage, Collections and Museums; it was notified to the Directorate of Environmental Administration of the Basque Government on July 6.

According to the legal basis of the Resolution, that report arrived late and the environmental body did not modify the Resolution of June 30. Therefore, the environmental impact report maintains full validity and effectiveness, and the proposals in the late report from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage are not required.

Conditions and corrective measures

The company i-DE renewed the project on September 3, 2026, stating that it will incorporate the protection and correction measures and monitoring controls established by the environmental body. The technical services of the Energy Area of the Delegation issued a favorable report. The conditions of the environmental impact report are part of the resolution, and, in summary, the following measures must be taken:

• Protection of natural heritage.
• Protection of fauna.
• Protection of public water heritage.
• Protection of water and soil.
• Protection of the landscape and restoration of affected surfaces.
• Minimization of noise and vibrations.
• Waste management.
• Management of potentially contaminated soils.
• Minimization of air pollution.
• Protection of cultural heritage.
• Adoption of a system of best practices.
• Cleaning and finishing of the works.
• Environmental consultancy.

Deadlines and appeals

• Works must be carried out according to the approved project, as well as complying with the technical conditions established by administrations, organisms, and companies during the consultation phase.
• The deadline for implementation is two years from the date of the resolution; if the operating permit is not requested after this period, the resolution may be revoked.
• The holder must notify the Territorial Delegation of Gipuzkoa of the completion of the works to carry out the final approval and extend the implementation act.
• The resolution does not end the administrative process; an appeal may be filed within one month before the Director of Decarbonization.
• The maximum period to resolve and notify the appeal is three months; if there is no resolution after this period, it will be considered implicitly rejected.

The resolution opens the way to modernize the electrical distribution network in the municipality of Elgoibar, with the aim of improving the quality of supply and the reliability of the network, but subject to the conditions established in the environmental impact report. These measures, therefore, must be mandatory in the execution of the works, and the environmental body’s report has become an integral part of the resolution.

Fuente: BOPV, No. 185, September 28, 2026, Other Provisions, p. 2026/4022 (official reference: 2026/4022).