El Cabildo insular reitera la necesidad de anular permisos para extraer tierras raras
“It is necessary that the authorizations issued at the time be closed administratively to ensure that they will not be reactivated”
The insular corporation welcomes Manuel Domínguez in a working meeting with mayors to address this and other issues of interest to the Island in the economic and business sphere
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura once again requests the definitive annulment of the applications admitted for the extraction of rare earths on the Island. The insular president, Lola García, took advantage of the visit of the vice president and councilor of Economy and Industry of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, to reiterate the importance of definitively closing the permits for rare earths, in a meeting attended by the vice president of the Cabildo, Blas Acosta, and the general director of Planning and Information of the Government of the Canary Islands, José David Santos.
Representatives from all municipalities, spokespersons from groups represented in the Cabildo, and the insular councilor for Economic Promotion, Nuria Cabrera, also participated.
During the meeting, Lola García took advantage of the vice president’s visit to reiterate the importance of definitively closing the applications admitted for the extraction of rare earths on the Island. In this way, Lola García pointed out that «Fuerteventura has shown unanimous rejection of rare earths, and it is time to close an issue that concerns the majorera citizens so much because it is an activity that jeopardizes our way of life, our environment, and the health of people with one of the most polluting industries on the planet.» «Not only with words, but from an administrative point of view to cancel the process authorizing the investigation and extraction of rare earths in different parts of the insular geography, to ensure that they will not be reactivated,» García added.
From the outset, the Cabildo de Fuerteventura showed its rejection of rare earths, filing allegations to stop the authorizations. This sentiment has been endorsed by the municipalities, FECAM, and FECAI.
On his part, the insular vice president, Blas Acosta, thanked the Parliament of the Canary Islands for taking this decision into account, «as there are legal reports that support our rejection of industrial and extractive activities with significant environmental and socioeconomic implications for the Island.» Acosta also emphasized the importance of promoting the blue economy and seeking development opportunities in Fuerteventura.
The vice president of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Ministry of Economy, Industry, Commerce, and Self-Employed, Manuel Domínguez, thanked the president of the Cabildo and the mayors of the Island for the reception and the meeting held, where he was able to explain the main lines of work for the coming year. Regarding rare earths, the vice president stated that «the investigation of this raw material on the island originated as a mandate from the Parliament, and likewise, when the society of the Island expressed its disagreement, the Parliament rectified and voted for its suspension.» «There was an advanced process, and we commissioned a legal report to comply with the law and avoid any compensation to the company. This report is favorable to the administration, so the guarantee that there is no investigation of rare earths in Fuerteventura is absolute.»
Additionally, Domínguez highlighted the competitive advantages that the Island has in key sectors for the diversification of its economy and mentioned the aerospace sector, with the Technological Park at the forefront, and the film industry where Fuerteventura has already demonstrated its capacity «amply.» The councilor also referred to the commitment to the blue economy in a territory like Fuerteventura and announced the creation of a projects office for this year where private initiative has been included.
