The General Directorate of Industry (PP) of the Government of the Canary Islands has given the green light to the expansion of exploitation within the lands of the Piedra Grande quarry resource mining concession, in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria, promoted by Lopesan Asphalts and Constructions. The growth in consumption of aggregates for construction in the Canary Islands is less than 5% and the development of tourism renewal requires nearby plants, although no one wants them near their home. The forecasts are still very uncertain, and it seems that, despite the dynamization of public works linked to municipal electoral processes and the development of projects linked to European funds, the year could end with a level of consumption of slight growth (+ 1%), but depending on the government's strategic decisions regarding investment, there could be a slight drop.
Despite closing the year in growth, per capita aggregate consumption remains one of the lowest in Europe according to data released by the National Association of Aggregate Manufacturers (Anefa) during its general assembly. “We are at the consumption levels of an underdeveloped country,” explained Santiago Sánchez, president of Anefa, in the presentation of the sector's consumption data. The association regrets that, of the 42 European countries from which data is collected, Spain occupies 37th place in aggregate consumption per capita, with 3,02 tons per inhabitant per year, almost half the European average, which It stands at 5,6 tons.
This August, the Gran Canaria Island Water Council (NC) has put on public display the request for an administrative concession for the occupation of public hydraulic lands in the Barranco de Piedra Grande or Cañada de los Cardones, for industrial-commercial use, for condition and extend the current pipeline around the 15.390 square meter plant.
At the beginning of 2024, the Environmental Impact Study of the Exploitation Project for the use of resources from the Piedra Grande quarry with four mining grids in San Bartolomé de Tirajana was given the green light. The object of the project is the exploitation of phonolitic rocks in two plots with an area of 68.516 m2 (plot 19) and 214.217 m² (plot 06), which totals 282.733 m², within the mining concession called Piedra Grande, located in the place known as Morrete de Las Salinas on land classified, according to the General Planning Plan of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, as Residual Rustic Land, where real reserves of 4.593,570 m3 have been evaluated, contemplating an annual production of 150.000 m³ during approximately 30 years.
