Illa pushes Catalan government to fast-track power-grid plan ahead of elections

Following the early dissolution of Spain's parliament, roughly three hundred legislative initiatives have been left pending, among them a new autonomous financing scheme and a reduction of the Fondo de Liquidez Autonómico that the Generalitat had hoped would save billions in interest. Salvador Illa, Catalonia's minister of territory, housing and ecological transition, is focusing on the electricity-transport network plan, prepared by his department and its director Daniel Pérez, as a priority.

The scheme envisions new distribution points and sub-station upgrades to meet growing urban, industrial and transport demand, and to support the EU-selected gigafactory in Móra la Nova, which will need additional capacity for its second phase around 2030-32. Illa has reached out to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and economic adviser Manuel de la Rocha to expedite the decree, which can be presented to the permanent congressional committee without a vote before the November 29 election. Without timely approval, the project could fall to a future administration of uncertain political composition.