The Balearic power surge continues

Demand for power in the Balearics reached record levels for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, GESA reported yesterday, and Chief Minister Francesc Antich is grateful for the four new generators which came in to operation early at Son Reus, which he visited yesterday. Without them there were fears that the Balearic power grid would not have been able to cope with the historic increases in demand for electricity. But Antich still wants more investment and is calling on Madrid to discuss the long term situation. This summer has seen the region's electricity grid seriously strained with demand reaching record levels and Antich wants safeguards for the future. The four new gas turbines installed at Son Reus are able to generate 12 percent of the electricity needed in Majorca and Minorca, according to chairman of the gas and electricity company GESA, Bartomeu Rues yesterday. The four turbines have been brought into operation ahead of schedule and over the past few days have proved invaluable as GESA has managed to meet record demand. But the problem, according to Rues, is that each hour the turbines are in operation, they guzzle 11'000 litres of fuel which is far more expensive than natural gas, on which the turbines can also run. However, the turbines will not be linked up to a natural gas supply until the Energy Plan is approved, another item Antich wants to broach with Rato. For the moment, Antich said that with the extra capabilities of the Son Reus turbine-plant, the record demand for power over the past week has been met with no problems. But Antich said that the need for further investment is now greater than ever with the demand for power increasing substantially every year. The Chief Minister stressed the importance that GESA and its holding company ENDESA “carry out the necessary investments” in the Balearics.