Electricity company boosts its power

With electricity companies expressing their fears that this summer could witness a series of power cuts as supply will be unable to meet demand during August, power company Endesa, GESA's parent company, announced yesterday that the Son Reus power plant will be fully operational by early next year. Initially the plant will be fuelled by diesel, but as soon as the natural gas pipeline between Majorca and Valencia, via Ibiza, is operational, the turbines at Son Reus will be switched over to the more eco-friendly natural gas. One of the turbines at the Son Reus plant is already in operation and has helped to boost electricity supplies in both Majorca and Minorca. The power cut which left Majorca and Minorca in complete darkness for hours last June, and was met by widespread condemnation from local businesses who demanded compensation, forced the power company to take effective action and the Son Reus gas turbine plant is the answer to the region's power woes. Minorca is currently experimenting with wind power to establish whether or not it can be the solution for the future.