The Las Cármenes quarry in Chimiche is at the center of a new administrative process as it seeks to expand its operations. The Canary Islands’ Directorate General of Industry has announced that Cement Investment, S.L. has applied for additional land rights related to its existing mining concession.
This technical procedure involves the exploitation of adjacent land areas and is part of adapting old coordinates to the geodetic system, as per the Mining Law. The public has 20 days to submit comments or objections, but the land rights have not yet been granted. The Directorate General of Industry will make the final decision.
This announcement comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the quarry’s activities. The Granadilla de Abona Town Council has unanimously requested the Canary Islands government to temporarily halt extraction and conduct an air quality analysis. Residents of Las Rosas and Chimiche have raised concerns about dust clouds affecting nearby homes and schools, demanding thorough checks on particle composition and exposure levels.
The quarry has a complex administrative history. In 2016, a request to extend the concession over 43 hectares was made public, and the extension was granted in 2019, with adjustments to four mining grids announced in 2023.
The current request adds another layer to a conflict involving mining rights, public health, environmental impact, and heritage. Documentation on the expansion can be accessed at the Mining Service and the Canary Islands Industry website.
As the public comment period proceeds, the quarry remains a focal point of political and community debate. Granadilla seeks precautionary measures, residents demand air quality assurances, and the regional government faces a decision on a contested concession perimeter.
