Electricity company to meet 2004 demand

JAIME Reguart, director general of the power company in the Balearics, Gesa Endesa, gave assurances yesterday that the electricity company will undertake a series of projects in 2004 to tackle the increase in demand for electricity supply registered in the region last year. In this way, he affirmed, incidents such as those which occurred last July on Majorca, when there were considerably lengthy power cuts during the heatwave, can be avoided. Reguart explained that the increase in electricity consumption in the Balearics in 2003 reached figures 10.8 percent over and above those of the previous year. In the case of Majorca, the increase was 10.3 percent. Findings show that in the last 5 years, the growth in demand for energy on Majorca has undergone a cumulative growth of 28.1 percent.
The director described as “worrying” the growth of 20 percent in maximum power demanded in the Balearics during 2003.
As a result, during 2004, the electricity company will be committed to a series of investments in the Balearics which will reach 277'966'000 euros. Of this figure, 194'897'000 will be allocated to the island of Majorca and of this, 122'248'000 will be set aside for investments in electricity infrastructure. These projects will directly benefit a total of 85'621 clients, who will see the quality of the service provide significantly improved. Developing this theme, Reguart gave prominence to some works involving high tension cables, such as plans for the Capdepera electric substation, the new conductors between Inca and Pollensa and the new Cala Blava substation. Regarding medium tension cable improvements scheduled for 2004, the director detailed conduction changes between Palmanyola-Bunyola and Porreres-Llucmajor, as well as the creation of new power supply lines, including one between Pont d'Inca and Marratxí. So as far as electricity generation is concerned, a total of 108'975'000 euros will be invested in Majorca, with 35'355'000 being allocated to costs and 73'620'000 to investment in infrastructure. Gesa will invest 86'282'000 in electricity networks, of which 49'988'000 will be allocated to infrastructure. This budget represents a growth of 21 percent in infrastructure investments over the previous year.