Demand for power goes sky high

The pressure is on central government to come up with vital funding to help the Balearics cover the cost of laying the much-needed gas pipeline from Valencia to Palma via Ibiza. Balearic Minister for Innovation and Energy, Príam Villalonga, said yesterday that the project will cost around 38.000 million pesetas. Yesterday morning the first meeting of the mixed Balearic Energy Commission, made up of Balearic and central government ministers, was held “satisfactorily” and both parties appeared to have reached an agreement over compensation for the Balearics to help cushion the costs of the pipeline. Madrid said yesterday that it is impressed with the proposal put forward by the Balearics with regards to the region's financial and energy needs over the next few years.