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The proposed biomethane and biofertiliser plant in Mazarrón, plans for which were published in the official Murcia regional bulletin (BORM) on July 4, has drawn strong reaction from Camposol businesses and residents, along with environmental activists ‘Ecologists in Action of the Region of Murcia’.

 

Ecologists in Action reports indicate the facility “aims to produce liquid and solid fertiliser and biomethane gas from waste, with a treatment capacity of 196,000 tons of waste per year, approximately 540 tons per day. The maximum capacity would be 316,160 tons per year”.

 

The reports also point out the “risks of these mega biogas plants”, such as “air pollution, unpleasant odours, leachate, soil and aquifer contamination, excessive water consumption, and heavy vehicle traffic in the area”.

 

The plant is projected to deal with 74 HGV trucks per day, figures that are based on the day-to-day running of the facility, and which do not even take into account the possibility of a serious leak or incident.

 

The announced plan states that the proposed plant will be located on land parcels 1, 8 and 9, in an area known as Casa Tejada. The southern edge of land parcel 1 is only 890 metres north of the Camposol urbanisation’s boundary and only 1,800 metres (1.8km) from the Camposol Medical Centre, which could be a significant issue.

 

The prestigious Condado de Alhama Golf Resort is only 3km north.

 

 

Representatives from Camposol associations have met with Mazarrón Council, who in turn have instructed technicians to carry out a report into the situation. An online petition has also been arranged, which already has hundreds of signatures in opposition to the location of the proposed plant, with homeowners and residents of not only Camposol but other areas potentially affected by the plant including Condado de Alhama, El Paretón (where there is a medical centre and a school), Los Serranos, Los Pulios, Los López and Las Ventas to register their opposition to the proposed industrial chemical plant.

 

 

 

It is by no means certain that this facility will progress. A similar situation already arose in Lorca, where multiple planning applications for biogas plants were lodged. Local resident groups strongly opposed the biogas plans and formed the ‘Stop Biogás Lorca’ platform.

 

After a round of meetings with various neighbourhood organisations and groups, 10 planning applications rejected by Lorca Council, 5 abandoned by the developers while 3, that satisfied the strict criteria were approved. This action by citizens of Lorca followed the example of the residents of the Tierras Altas, whose initiative led to the shutdown of two such facilities.

 

Concern continues in the municipality of Lorca over the large number of projects proposed, in one form or another, to install biogas production plants. With the number steadily growing, the alarm at both the local and administrative levels is justified. However, everything indicates that far fewer will ultimately be implemented.

 

Having already denied permits for three of these facilities planned for installation in Zarcilla de Ramos, Doña Inés, and Barranco Hondo, the City Council continues its round of informational meetings with various neighbourhood organisations and groups. Participating on this latest occasion were representatives from the Torrealvilla Neighbourhood Association and the Federation of Neighborhood Associations, in addition to the Town Hall.

 

In addition to municipal efforts, the people of Lorca have also decided to mobilise. Following the example of the residents of the Tierras Altas, whose initiative led to the shutdown of two facilities, and the actions undertaken in other parts of the Region, the ‘Stop Biogás Lorca’ platform was formed, and issued a stark warning: “Lorca will become the slurry dumping ground for the entire Region.”

 

 

 

Images 1&2: Google Maps

Image 3: CARM