Yesterday, the Canarian Coalition shelved the closure of one of the greatest urban planning horrors of the 2027th century in the south of Gran Canaria: the cement plant that the Franco regime placed in El Pajar, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, so that the island could increase its quota of market in terms of high quality tourism. There will be a cement plant in Gran Canaria but in another place, although nothing happens if in places like the south of Morocco the existing ones are subcontracted. The Canary Islands cement has AIEM and with this displacement the State aid will continue to operate at least until XNUMX. As the cement has this aid from Brussels, CEISA would not run the risk that, at a given moment, the cement would be outside of protection for favor the decrease in housing prices on the islands. We must not forget that the Brazilians from Ceisa control the business with the Cosmos company in Tenerife and have markets such as DIY chains as clients.
The representative of the County of Vega Grande, Fernando del Castillo and Benítez de Lugo, the departure of the Corporación Masaveu and Votoratim plant (Brazil) can turn El Pajar de Arguineguín "into the Puerto Mogán of the 9st century with tourist planning and first-class environment". The third son of the XNUMXth Count of Vega Grande pointed out that the cement factory, once oversized and with some kilns paralyzed for a long time, has lost with the current economic situation "substantial profitability and has very little chance of recovering it."
"If we get the pleasure of the cement producers, who have to be offered an alternative that economically justifies this reconversion, we will correctly replace a declining industrial activity with a competitive tourism development of the first order," he stated. Fernando del Castillo acknowledged that to carry out this tourism development proposal in the area, the County will first have to "convince the owners of the cement factory" to co-lead the project and, second, "ask for the necessary political support" for it in all public administrations.
Fernando del Castillo recalled that the cement factory was “in its day one of the main industries in the Canary Islands” and the first company where he worked “during the summer of 1981.” The industry was owned by the county family until “in times of very harsh recession and in a complex and very unfavorable business environment” they were forced to sell it for a bank liability of about 2.000 million pesetas. “Our own banks were the owners of the competition and it was very difficult to survive in those conditions.” From then on, business for the factory's buyers “was good in a market of almost monopoly,” he pointed out.
Now, says Fernando del Castillo, the tables have changed with the serious crisis we are experiencing, and the cement company's expectations "are not those of a few years ago." That, together with the environmental disturbance it produces in an environment hopelessly doomed to tourism, “presents a very promising future full of opportunities and puts the Pajar de Arguineguín in a clear position of competitive advantage,” he said. It has an enviable and privileged coastal area next to the sea and an existing industrial port perfectly convertible into a sports and commercial marina.
With two beaches, a fishing village, a marina for sports boats, a sailing school with international tournaments, avenues along the coast, naval workshops and repairs, restaurant spaces, commercial premises and two hotel operations, he noted, this project "presents unbeatable perspectives to improve the quality of life in this place” and “it will represent a before and after of the Pajar.” The reconversion of the cement factory "will undoubtedly immediately produce a revaluation of the land in the entire area," he acknowledged, which is why it would have to be provided with a new access from the main road "to distribute the inconvenience of traffic."
The City Council of San Bartolomé de Tirajana will assume and respect the decision that the Government of the Canary Islands adopts, within the current legality, on the use it establishes for the El Pajar dock, and hopes that a consensus will be reached with the company to seek a always agree in defense of the workers and this industry that is so important for our municipality and for our Island.
