The Regional Government authorizes Red Eléctrica for the Illora-Tajo line variant

The Territorial Delegation of Economy, Finance, European Funds and University, Industry, Energy and Innovation in Granada has granted Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. the prior administrative and construction authorization to modify section 136-149 of the 220 kV double-circuit high-voltage overhead line Illora-Tajo de la Encantada 1 and 2, located within the municipal boundaries of Loja and Salar. The resolution, signed in Granada on September 28, 2026, by the territorial delegate Gumersindo Carlos Fernández Casas, is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Granada no. 196, dated October 9, 2026, with official reference BOP-GRA-2026-196002 and file E-8228 / GR-T-0-00112/24.

The action responds to a specific purpose detailed in the file: the route variant due to interference with the construction project of the Antequera-Granada high-speed rail line. The application by Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. (NIF A85309219) was submitted on September 19, 2024, requesting jointly the prior administrative authorization, the construction authorization, and the specific declaration of public utility; the published resolution grants the first two.

A variant to avoid the AVE route

The project replaces the existing section between supports T-136 and T-149 with a new route that avoids interference with the railway infrastructure. The intervention involves the dismantling of 5,030 meters of the current power line and the installation of a new 6,150-meter section of 220 kV line.

The new section runs between the UTM ETRS89 coordinates, zone 30, starting at X: 398,965.80 / Y: 4,112,278.47 and ending at X: 403,540.31 / Y: 4,113,428.47, always within the municipal boundaries of Loja and Salar.

Technical characteristics and budget

The main specifications of the authorized installation are as follows:

• 17 new galvanized metal supports.
• 402AL1/52-ST1A double-circuit conductor, with a maximum operating temperature of 85 ºC.
• Thermal transport capacity of 350 MVA/circuit in summer and 420 MVA/circuit in winter.
• OPGW-Type I 17kA optical ground wire and 7n7 AWG conventional ground wire.
• Type 12 composite insulators.
• Budget: 4,121,387.88 euros.
• Estimated execution period: 24 months, counted from the day following the acquisition of all necessary permits, licenses, and authorizations.

The technical project was signed on July 24, 2024, by the industrial technical engineer Belén García Santos, member no. 26,693 of the Official College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Madrid, with a declaration of authorship dated July 30, 2024.

Procedures, allegations, and consulted bodies

The file was submitted for public information jointly through insertion in BOE no. 258 of October 25, 2024, BOJA no. 23 of February 4, 2025, BOP no. 205 of October 22, 2024, the IDEAL newspaper of October 28, 2024, and the notice boards of the town halls of Loja and Salar. No written submissions were presented during the allegations period.

In accordance with articles 127, 131, and 146 of Royal Decree 1955/2000, a separate copy of the project was sent to the affected bodies and companies:

• Loja Town Hall and Salar Town Hall.
• Territorial Delegation of Sustainability and Environment in Granada.
• Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation.
• “El Manzanil” Irrigation Community.
• Edistribución Redes Digitales, S.L.U. and Telefónica de España, S.A.U.

On October 21, 2024, the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge issued a favorable report. On September 15, 2026, the Territorial Delegation of Sustainability and Environment granted the unified environmental authorization for substantial modification no. 1, with file AAU/SC/002/16/MS1.

Against this resolution, which does not exhaust administrative remedies, an appeal for reversal (recurso de alzada) may be filed before the Technical General Secretariat of the Ministry of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation within one month.

The authorization unlocks a strategic project for the western region of Granada: it guarantees compatibility between the electricity transmission network and the arrival of the AVE (high-speed train) to Granada, and establishes the technical, economic, and deadline conditions that Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. must meet before requesting the operating authorization. The owners and municipalities affected by the new route now have the official framework of the action and a period of one month to appeal.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Granada, no. 196, of October 9, 2026, Regional Administration (official reference: BOP-GRA-2026-196002).