Beyond excessive water consumption that will have the factory, The enclave will expand eucalyptus monoculture in 60 kilometers around. Neighbors, activists and environmental organizations They try to mobilize to stop the project of one Cellulose macroplanta of OTHERS in King Palkes.
Ecologist organizations sharply reject the resolution by which the Environmental impact statement of the project of Altri cellulose factorypublished in the Official Galicia Diary.
For NGOs, the published document is not aimed at evaluating the viability of the project, but to help the company to settle giving all kinds of facilities to twist environmental regulationsdo more than questionable analysis, leave too many loose ends and what is worse, trust excessively in the will of the promoter.
The lack of water in different regions of the Spanish State does not seem to be an obstacle for the central government to drive a cellulose factory in Palas de Rei (Lugo).
Las more than 350 hectares of natural habitat that will occupy the plant They will be severely affected by their activity, in addition to will have an impact on livestock and agriculture in the area.
The most alarming: the plant that will build OTHERS in Galicia will consume 640 liters of water per second, with a total collection of 46,000 cubic meters per day, that is, 17 Olympic swimming pools, the endangered animal species that will be damaged and the loss of biodiversity by expanding the monoculture of Eucalyptus.
Agua: Altri’s macroplanta will require 17 daily Olympic pools
The project for the implementation of OTHERSa cellulose -based textile fiber industry and its associated infrastructure, It was declared a Strategic Industrial Project (Pie) by the Xunta de Galicia in December 2022, A mechanism used to expedite the procedures in the authorization of projects that does not comply with due public participation and raffles the most basic environmental legislation that protects the proper evaluation of the impact of these projects.
The factory that is intended to be installed in Palas de Rei would occupy 366 ha, will require an electrical consumption power of 110 MW, a collection of 46,000 m³/water day (16 hm3/year) and an industrial discharge permit to the Ulla River of 30,000 m³/wastewater day.
The company also foresees total reduced sulfur emissions, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate material, for which a 75 -meter -high chimney will be installed as the sole emitting focus of the lime oven, the recovery boiler, the emergency and biomasa.
In April of 2024 Ecologist organizations presented allegations so that the authorization of the project was denied and an unfavorable environmental impact declaration was issued.
The alleged reasons were the condition to the natural values by which the spaces of the Natura 2000 Network of Special Conservation Serra do Careón, Ulla-Deza River System and Superirais do Arnego were declared, for the condition of threatened and protected species cataloged as “in danger of extinction” and “vulnerable”by him Inasumible consumption and contamination of water in a basin that already suffers important problems of drought and eutrophication, and for going against several European standards.
Natura 2000 Red of Galicia: ‘Wet paper’
Among the natural values by which those were protected ZECwe must highlight the presence of Two very threatened species at the state level, and linked to well -preserved water courses, such as river naiade and the Iberian demán cataloged as “in danger of extinction” and as “vulnerable” respectively.
In this regard, it must be mentioned that in the area where the cellulose factory is intended to be located, the Xunta de Galicia, Augas de Galicia and the University of Santiago de Compostela They developed the Life+ Margal-ulla project In order to conserve populations of Two of Galicia’s most threatened species: Margaritifera Margaritifera and Galemys Pireicusand lay the foundations for conservation of the Ulla-Deza river systemboth at the level of natural heritage and hydrological planning.
This project received significant financing from the EUwhich meant a series of commitments acquired by the Xunta de Galicia.
The dumps provided by the Altri plant multiplicate the eutrophication problem.
The discharges planned by the Altri plant will represent a serious threat to the survival of these species, multiplying the eutrophication problem.
This will result in an affectation to existing collection for human consumption, water quality for the life of fish and for the maintenance of the entire aquatic ecosystem of the Ulla-Deza river system. It should also be taken into account that this part of the Ulla basin suffers important drought problems, so the dilution of the discharge will be less.
Galician catalog of threatened species: affects protected species of fauna y flora
In the project zone we must highlight the nesting of pale aquilucho and Aguilucho ash (Both species included with the category of “vulnerable” in the Galician Catalog of Threatened Species. In addition, the pale aquilucho is within the category of “in danger” and the ash auilucho as “vulnerable”, within the Red Book of the Birds of Spain.
In addition to the two species mentioned above, another 17 species of birds present in the area They are included in Annex I of the 2009/14/CE Directive, among which the common elanio which has in this area the only town with regular breeding in Galicia in recent years, with two couples.
As for other sectors affected by the projected water collection, the Environmental Impact Assessment presented It does not mention the existence of aquatic birds in the portodemouro reservoiramong which Two species that are also omitted in environmental inventory stand out: The Somormujo Lavancowhich has a nesting population or The fisherman eagleusual during the migratory steps, both protected, being the latter cataloged with the category of vulnerable in Galicia already state level.
From the point of view of the threatened flora, Several rare plant endemisms of serpentinitic rocks are identified (The area is known for the outcrop of Melide’s serpentines). Three of them cataloged as “in danger of extinction” (Santolina Melidensis, Armeria Merinoi, Leucanthemum Gallaecicum) and also Other plant species included in the Galician catalog of threatened specieshow Centaurea gallaecicaexclusive endemism of Galicia and cataloged as “vulnerable.”
An ‘unsustainable’ project contrary to European regulations
The forest model required for this project Having the production of cellulose and Lyocell scheduled goes against the European Commission recommendations For the current one STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE PAC in terms of sustainable forest management: increase the multifunctionality of forests; achieve the good condition of habitats and species; improve ecological services and biodiversity; create resilience to the effects of climate change; Improve forest fire prevention and subsequent restoration, by improving adaptation to climate change.
For the same reasons the project of OTHERS It will also go against the recently approved Regulation on the restoration of naturethat It proposes precisely to restore many of the ecosystems that are being degraded with this forest model, as well as the Habitat Directive and the Bird Directive.