• The process will take place in the weeks prior to initiating the official permitting process for the project
• With an investment of €70 million , the new electricity axis will allow energy from renewable sources to be fully taken advantage of and will promote the development of the sector

Red Eléctrica de España has started a public information and consultation process that is voluntary in nature regarding the electricity line that will link up the Basque Country and Navarra in order to guarantee maximum transparency and promote the involvement of the citizens of these two Autonomous Communities from outset of the project. On 9 May, a meeting was held in Pamplona in which regional agents, qualified personnel and professionals of the sector took part to discuss the technical aspects of the project.

The objective is to provide information regarding the procedures associated with the design, permitting process and construction of the future line before initiating the official permitting process for the project. To achieve this, the Company has the collaboration of companies specialised in engineering, environmental management and public participation and will work closely with local entities, economic and social agents, technical experts, stakeholders and regional authorities from an early stage of the project.

This initiative responds to Red Eléctrica's interest in involving citizens so that they may contribute their experience and knowledge of the surrounding areas and subsequently prioritise environmental and social criteria. This process includes technical meetings and open sessions in various locations in Guipuzcoa and Navarra, as well as various channels of communication and a space where interested parties can submit their contributions.

New Basque Country-Navarra electricity axis

The new 400 kilovolt (kV) electricity line that will connect the Itsaso substation (Guipúzcoa) with the Castejón-Muruarte line (Navarra) is part of the northern axis that connects up with the Mediterranean axis. Currently, there are only two 220 kV electricity lines between Orcoyen and Itsaso, built in the middle of the last century, and whose capacity does not respond to current needs nor those foreseen.

With an budget of approximately €70 million , this project will help strengthen grid meshing and the electricity transmission capacity between the Basque Country and Navarra, improving the security and quality of supply and allowing the integration of a greater amount of renewable energy, in line with the European recommendations and regional energy plans that advocate for the promotion and greater use of these sources in the generation of electricity, all this in addition to reducing technical constraints and energy losses.

This project is included in the current electricity transmission grid planning drafted by the Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda with the collaboration of the agents of the sector, among which are Red Eléctrica and the Autonomous Communities, and which includes the needs detected in the territory.

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