The Plenary of the Bollullos de la Mitación Town Hall approved on Monday, unanimously, a proposal from the Mayor expressing its rejection of the biogas mega plant planned in Benacazón and adopting the demands of the local platform.
The Bollullos de la Mitación Town Hall has already taken action. On Monday, the municipal Plenary approved, by unanimity, a proposal from the Mayor that outright rejects the biogas mega plant planned in the municipality of Benacazón. The decision, which received support from all political groups, represents another step in the citizen and institutional opposition to a project that has been generating controversy in the Aljarafe region for months.
A rejection that comes from the streets
The approved proposal is not a product of improvisation. The Town Hall has fully adopted the initiative presented by the Stop Biogás Aljarafe-Doñana Citizens' Platform, which has been mobilising residents for weeks. In fact, the text incorporates their proposals as the institutional position of the Town Hall in defence of the general interests of the citizens. It is no wonder: the plant, if built, would be a stone's throw from several developments, such as La Juliana, which has raised all alarms.
The mayor of Bollullos de la Mitación, Clara Monrobé, stated that Bollullos “has spoken with one voice. When the health, quality of life, and future of our residents are at stake, there is no room for doubt or half measures: this Town Hall will defend its people to the end.”
The mayor also focused on the Junta de Andalucía, which has the final say. “Now the responsibility lies with the Junta de Andalucía, which we trust will listen to the outcry from this territory, assess all the allegations presented with the utmost rigor, and make a decision that prioritises the general interest, the protection of the territory, and the quality of life of those of us who live in the Aljarafe,” Monrobé added.
The technical arguments against the plant
The agreement does not stop at political protest. The Bollullos Town Hall has formally submitted its allegations within the Integrated Environmental Authorisation procedure being processed by the Junta. And it has done so with substantial arguments. Among them, the incompatibility of the site with an Agricultural Space of Interest protected by the Potaus (Territorial Planning Plan of Aljarafe) stands out. Furthermore, the Town Hall points out that the chosen location is not sufficiently justified and would entail an irreversible transformation of the rural land.
Another key point is the proximity to residential areas. The La Juliana development is very close to the site planned for the plant, which has generated great concern among residents. The Town Hall also warns of the increase in heavy traffic on the A-474 and other road infrastructures in the region, as well as the inadequacy of the odour study presented by the promoters. In short, the Town Hall is calling for a strengthened environmental assessment before a final decision is made.
For the residents of Bollullos and the neighbouring municipalities, such as Benacazón and Aznalcázar, the impact would be direct. The plant would not only affect the landscape and the environment but also their daily lives: more trucks, potential bad odours, and the feeling that the territorial model of the Aljarafe, based on agriculture and quality of life, is at risk. Therefore, the Plenary's decision has been met with relief in many homes.
Another step in institutional pressure
With this approval, Bollullos joins other municipalities in the Aljarafe that have already expressed their rejection of the project. The Town Hall has committed to continue promoting actions to protect the territory and to maintain coordination with other administrations and social entities. The ball, however, is now in the court of the Junta de Andalucía. The Plenary has urged President Juanma Moreno to intervene institutionally, given the social, territorial, and environmental significance of the matter.
Meanwhile, the Stop Biogás Aljarafe-Doñana Platform continues its awareness and mobilisation campaign. The next event will be a concentration planned for the coming days, although no fixed date has been set yet. What is clear is that the rejection of the mega plant is not just a mere political gesture: the residents and their representatives are willing to go all the way. And, for now, they are in the lead.
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