The environmental organization Eguzki has firmly rejected the Basque Government's intention to build a fish farm at the former Lemoiz nuclear power plant, involving a 170 million euro public-private investment. The group stated that the proposal is insufficient, lacks transparency, and is socially unjust.
“"This is not the first aquaculture project announced for this space; in 2017, the then minister Arantxa Tapia presented a similar project that would have been a reality by 2023."
The environmental entity has denounced that this agreement is another exception for Iberdrola, which, according to Eguzki, "destroyed and disfigured" a large area of the Basque coast. The group emphasized that taxpayers will bear the cost of adapting this space, benefiting a private company, and that 2.5 million euros have already been invested in repairing the dike.
Another critical point they have denounced is the lack of transparency. According to Eguzki, the project was announced through a closed agreement between the Basque Government and a private company, ignoring the requests from the municipalities of Mungialdea and Uribe Kosta. These municipalities requested in February to open a participation process to decide the future of this symbolic place, but the Pradales Government has opted for the path of "accomplished facts".
“"The pattern repeats: not listening to the opinion of the citizens."
For Eguzki, the fish farm project is a "patch" that does not resolve the environmental disaster of Basordas cove and its surroundings. The project will only occupy 10 of the 160 altered hectares, leaving the rest of the land outside any comprehensive recovery plan. The group recalled that citizen mobilization was what, at the time, prevented an active nuclear power plant, and they have warned that they will remain vigilant against a project they consider a lost opportunity for true environmental regeneration under the guise of modernization.
