The decision, formalized on March 27 by a decree signed by the Delegate of Urban Planning, Mobility and Environment, Borja Carabante, follows the identification by the General Directorate of the Valdemingómez Technology Park of the need to modify certain aspects of the Technical Specifications document.
The contract, which had been authorized by the Governing Board in February, has a budget of 614 million euros for the next 15 years. This includes the obligation for the successful bidder to invest at least 100 million euros in modernizing the plant and updating its machinery and facilities. Furthermore, it must guarantee the reduction of waste sent to landfill, maximize the recovery of recyclable materials, and pay an annual fee equivalent to five percent of the income from electricity sales, with a minimum of 500,000 euros and a maximum of one million, earmarked for projects in the district of Villa de Vallecas.
“"The Las Lomas plant has been operating without a formal contract since January, and now the award of a new one is delayed. This is yet another example of negligent management. While this tender is paralyzed, the necessary investments to modernize the plant, adapt it, and reduce its polluting impact cannot be undertaken. All Madrid residents pay the consequences."
Since January, the plant has been operating under a continuity order without a formal contract in force, a situation previously experienced between 2019 and 2020 for 19 months. For her part, the deputy mayor and municipal spokesperson, Inma Sanz, downplayed the significance of the suspension, referring to the reasons as "minor technical errors detected".
During the press conference following the Governing Board meeting, Sanz explained that the modification of the specifications "does not imply any fundamental change in the approach to the tender and operation of the plant" nor does it affect the planned economic-financial model. The General Directorate of the Technology Park is promoting "specific adjustments" to the specifications, which will be incorporated following criteria of legal certainty and transparency.
