Red Eléctrica obtains authorization to upgrade the Tajo-Litoral line in Almería

The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines, under the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, has granted Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. the prior administrative authorization and the administrative construction authorization to upgrade the 400 kV Tajo de la Encantada-Litoral overhead electric power transmission line, in the provinces of Málaga, Granada, and Almería. The resolution, signed in Madrid on September 17, 2026, by the general director Manuel García Hernández, is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Almería no. 188, dated September 29, 2026, under reference 2587/26 (pp. 28-37).

Five sections and a capacity leap

The action is processed as a single project divided into five sections, each with a file initiated in the corresponding Industry and Energy Department of the Government Sub-delegation:

• Section 1: SE Tajo de la Encantada - SE Archidona (Málaga), 41.78 km.
• Section 2: SE Archidona - SE Caparacena (Málaga and Granada), 65.59 km.
• Section 3: SE Caparacena - SE Huéneja (Granada), 73.077 km.
• Section 4: SE Huéneja - SE Tabernas (Granada and Almería), 58.8 km.
• Section 5: SE Tabernas - SE Litoral (Almería), 37.88 km.

The technical characteristics are common: three-phase alternating current, frequency of 50 Hz, nominal voltage of 400 kV, and highest network voltage of 420 kV, with a future maximum conductor temperature of 85 ºC. The current transmission capacity per circuit is 1,398 MVA, and the planned capacity increases to 1,732 MVA in winter and 1,427 MVA in summer in section 4, and to 1,685 MVA in winter and 1,492 MVA in summer in section 5.

Heightening of supports in seven Almería municipalities

The upgrade is carried out through the heightening of existing supports, with heights ranging between 3 and 8.5 meters depending on the section. In the province of Almería, the actions are distributed as follows:

• Section 4, districts of Fiñana, Abla, Nacimiento, Gérgal, and Tabernas: supports T-427, T-433, T-434, T-437, T-438, T-440, T-441, and T-442 (Fiñana); T-447 and T-454 (Abla); T-467, T-479, and T-482 (Nacimiento); T-487, T-493, T-506, and T-507 (Gérgal); and T-512, T-532, T-534, and T-538 (Tabernas).
• Section 5, districts of Tabernas, Lucainena de las Torres, and Carboneras: supports T-545, T-550, and T-555 (Tabernas); T-564, T-565, T-569, T-570, T-574, T-577, T-579, T-583, T-587, T-591, T-597, and T-602 (Lucainena de las Torres); and T-619, T-620, T-624, T-626, and T-627 (Carboneras).

Environmental background and prior procedures

Red Eléctrica requested both authorizations on June 10, 2025. The project has an Environmental Impact Statement formulated by resolution of March 8, 2021, published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) no. 66, of March 18, 2021, the validity of which was extended for two additional years by resolution of April 8, 2025. The repowering is listed in the Electric Energy Transmission Network Development Plan 2021-2026, approved by agreement of the Council of Ministers on March 22, 2022, and in its modification approved on April 16, 2024.

The request was submitted for public consultation through announcements published in the Official State Gazette no. 237, of October 2, 2025, and in the Official Gazette of the Province of Almería no. 192, of October 7, 2025 (section 5), and no. 207, of October 29, 2025 (section 4). The National Commission on Markets and Competition did not respond within the period of 15 business days, therefore its report is understood to be favorable. The State Aviation Safety Agency conditioned the installation on not exceeding the authorized height values, and supports 251, 257, 260, and 264, affected by easements of the Armilla Air Base, are excluded from any height increase.

Environmental conditions include the prior archaeological survey required in section 4 by the Territorial Delegation of Historical Heritage and the reinforcement of slopes at supports 427, 433, 487, 506, 507, 512, 574, 577, 583, and 627.

Deadlines and appeal process

The annex of the resolution sets the deadline for issuing the operating authorization at 24 months, counted from the notification to the petitioner. Against the resolution, which does not exhaust the administrative route, an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed before the Secretary of State for Energy within one month.

The authorization unlocks a strategic infrastructure for electricity transmission between the interior and the east of Almería: it increases the evacuation capacity of the 400 kV network that crosses Fiñana, Abla, Nacimiento, Gérgal, Tabernas, Lucainena de las Torres, and Carboneras, and directly affects landowners and the city councils of these municipalities, who were consulted during the processing.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Almería, no. 188, September 29, 2026, State Administration, pp. 28-37 (official reference: 2587/26).