Western Costa del Sol faces possible blackout as single substation bears fire risk

A fire that burned about 3.8 sq km near the Ermita del Rosario hermitage in Benahavis forced the western Costa del Sol to run its grid from a lone high-voltage substation, Costasol, situated next to the AP-7 motorway. The other planned substation, completed in 2019, remains offline because the 220,000-volt feeder line is missing its last two pylons, a delay caused by a legal battle over the land needed for the final towers.

The Supreme Court dismissed the challenge to the environmental assessment on May 27, returning the matter to Andalucía’s High Court for a new ruling. Until the pylons are erected, the region depends solely on Costasol, prompting officials to devise a special summer plan to avoid a coast-wide blackout. Manuel Larrasa described the situation as “nonsense,” while Felix Romero of the Mancomunidad joked that the best news would be a reliable supply network. The High Court’s pending decision will determine whether the additional substation can be connected promptly.