La biogas plant planned in SoandresThe project in the municipality of A Laracha, in the province of A Coruña, has become one of the most contentious issues in the debate surrounding the energy transition in Galicia. What is presented on paper as a facility for processing organic waste and producing biomethane has, in reality, sparked strong opposition from local residents, the municipality, and politicians, extending far beyond the boundaries of the municipality itself.
Neighborhood associations, neighboring municipalities, and various parliamentary groups have strongly protested what they consider a Oversized project, poorly located and with little local returnMeanwhile, the Galician government (Xunta) is continuing the environmental assessment process and denies that there is automatic support for the initiative.
A biogas project on rural land and in the spotlight
The Soandres biogas plant is promoted by the company Bioenergy A Coruña It is located in the Chousa Grande area, on land formerly occupied by a quarry and classified as ordinary protected rural land. According to documentation released by the Xunta (Galician regional government), the facility would be dedicated to... valorization of organic waste from agriculture and the food industry through anaerobic digestion, with the aim of obtaining biomethane to inject it into the natural gas network.
The figures vary slightly depending on political and neighborhood sources, but all the data points to a large-scale facility with very high capacityEnvironmental documentation indicates up to 63.500 tons of waste annually, including approximately 6.500 tons of animal by-products classified as Sandach 3, while Socialist representatives raise the estimate to 73.000 tons per year. Other municipal documents, however, suggest a maximum volume of around 65.000 tons.
The area occupied is also a source of debate. Various public statements have indicated that the plant would extend over approximately 16.000 square meters of facilitiesWhile the Culleredo Town Council cites over 95.000 square meters affected in the area surrounding the Anllóns River. Despite these discrepancies in the figures, all parties agree that it is a large-scale project for a rural environment close to population centers.
The technical design follows the standard model for this type of plant: reception of slurry and organic waste, anaerobic digestion to generate biogas, purification to convert it into biomethane for injection into the grid, and production of digestate, which is separated into a solid fraction—for external management companies—and a liquid fraction, which would be treated for disposal or reuse. The plant would operate on 24 hours of the day, with a physical presence of staff six days a week in reduced shifts, and a very limited direct workforce, around ten jobs.
Neighborhood concerns: territory, health and quality of life
In A Laracha the platform has been established Stop Biogas in LarachaThe group, which brings together residents opposed to the project, emphasizes that it is not opposed to renewable energy or the energy transition, but rather to a... an implementation model that they describe as disorganized and lacking guaranteeswhich would place a high-impact industry in a sensitive rural environment very close to homes.
One of the central themes of his discourse is the chosen locationThe platform argues that the proposed location in Soandres is incompatible with heritage protection, safeguarding water resources, preserving the residential environment, and maintaining an acceptable quality of life. In their view, an infrastructure of this size should be located in an industrial park away from homes, rivers, and heritage sites, not just a few hundred meters from populated areas.
El impact on water and river ecosystems This is another major concern. The project is located near the Anllóns River, the municipality's main waterway and the source of drinking water for a large portion of the homes in A Laracha. The proximity to the headwaters of other streams, such as the Valiñas, is also mentioned, reinforcing fears of potential spills, leaks, or accidents that could affect the area's water resources.
The landscape and biodiversity dimensions are also noteworthy. The presence of [species/species] has been documented in the Soandres area. various species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammalsAmong them is the Montagu's harrier, listed as vulnerable. Neighborhood organizations and municipal representatives maintain that an industrial plant of this kind alters the rural landscape, introduces visible infrastructure and constant traffic, and can generate cumulative effects on wildlife, especially due to noise, nighttime lighting, and continuous activity.
The third cause for concern, and probably the most immediate for the population, is the odors associated with organic waste managementResidents and politicians recall experiences with other similar facilities and assert that no one wants to live or walk near a massive plant that could generate a persistent stench. Public debates emphasize that the odors would severely impact daily life, the use of outdoor spaces, the perception of environmental safety, and ultimately, the image of rural areas as livable places.
Finally, the Stop Biogas A Laracha platform warns about the treatment of digestate resulting from the processIn their statement, they warn that in many biogas projects, this byproduct ends up being spread on nearby farmland. They point out that digestate can contain high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, salts, heavy metals, and other contaminants which, if not managed properly, could lead to soil over-fertilization, aquifer contamination, persistent odors, and negative impacts on the quality of agricultural land.
Archaeological heritage and impacts on the rural environment
One of the arguments that has gained the most weight in the municipal allegations is the presence of archaeological heritage within the project area. A short distance from the planned location is the Chousa Grande Mámoa, a listed structure that forms part of the area's megalithic heritage. Both the A Laracha Town Council and the local residents' association consider the coexistence of a protected dolmen and an industry of this size to be, at the very least, problematic.
Municipal technicians have pointed out that, although the rural land use While this type of facility is permitted in Galicia in theory, it doesn't mean all locations are suitable. The proximity of a protected heritage site, the rural nature of the surroundings, and the location near homes and waterways lead the local government to conclude that Soandres is not the ideal site and that alternatives should be considered in industrial parks or other areas with less environmental and heritage sensitivity.
La impact on the landscape and the configuration of the rural territory It is also mentioned in the official statements of neighboring municipalities, such as Culleredo and Cerceda, which consider themselves potentially harmed by the plant. These municipalities insist that large-scale infrastructure, with heavy traffic and uninterrupted activity, is more appropriate for a consolidated industrial environment than for agricultural and forestry areas where small farms and scattered housing predominate.
Furthermore, the rejection is not limited to environmental and heritage impacts. In the informational meetings, the following points have been highlighted: fear of property devaluation, the possible loss of residential and tourist appeal of the area and the feeling that the rural area becomes a point of reception for large amounts of waste from other territories, without a proportional benefit for the population that bears it.
Another aspect that is strongly questioned is the real socioeconomic return of the project. The residents' platform and various political groups emphasize that the creation of fewer than ten direct jobs does not, in their view, compensate for the potential risks and inconveniences. The BNG of Culleredo and the PSdeG of A Laracha insist that this model responds more to the economic interests of the promoting companies than to the needs of the area, and they advocate for smaller, decentralized plants linked to locally sourced agricultural waste.
Political reaction and institutional fracture surrounding the plant
The conflict over the Soandres biogas plant has escalated significantly. Galician political chessboardAt the local level, the A Laracha Town Council, governed by the PP (People's Party), has taken a firm stance against the project. In an informational meeting held at the Casa da Cultura (Cultural Center), attended by more than 300 people, the municipal government pledged to exhaust all available administrative and legal avenues to prevent the plant from being built.
At that meeting, municipal technicians detailed the status of the process: the project is currently in integrated environmental and environmental impact assessment phaseThese procedures depend on the Galician Regional Government (Xunta de Galicia). For the plant to be authorized, sectoral reports will be required from agencies such as Augas de Galicia (Galician Water Authority), Heritage, Public Health, Rural Affairs, and Air Safety, among others. The City Council, for its part, has made downloadable objection forms available to residents on the municipal website or at administrative offices, with the option of submitting them through the Interconnection of Registries System.
The position of rejection also extends to other nearby municipalities. Culleredo council unanimously approved An institutional statement was issued against the plant, citing serious environmental, landscape, water, and social impacts. The mayor, José Ramón Rioboo, met with his counterpart from Cerceda to coordinate positions and prepare possible joint objections, in an attempt to form a united municipal front before the regional government.
Meanwhile, in Culleredo, various political groups have been active. The BNG submitted an urgent motion for the City Council to officially oppose the plant, while Alternativa dos Veciños demanded more detailed information about the procedure and its potential repercussions for the municipality. In A Laracha, the PSdeG has requested the creation of a working committee with participation from the neighborhood platform, associations and political forces to channel social rejection and transfer it directly to the Xunta.
The controversy has also reached the Parliament of GaliciaVarious initiatives to demand greater environmental, health, and public participation guarantees have failed to replicate the consensus reached in the Laracha municipal council, where the PP, PSOE, and BNG voted against the project. In the Galician Parliament, the differences between political groups have surfaced strongly, particularly between the PP and the PSdeG.
Clash between PP and PSOE in the Galician Parliament
The spokesperson for Industry of the Socialist Group, Patricia IglesiasIglesias has accused the People's Party and the Galician government of "rolling out the red carpet" for the Soandres biogas plant, despite the opposition of local residents. Iglesias criticizes the regional government for having modified the regulations through the budget's accompanying law in order, in his opinion, weaken local autonomy and reduce the capacity of local councils to stop these types of projects, putting municipal licenses and urban planning limits in the background.
The Socialist deputy brought a motion to the Public Works Committee that included the demands of the Stop Biogas A Laracha platform, whose representatives followed the session from the Socialist Group's benches. Iglesias maintains that the Galician Socialists remain firmly opposed to the plant, while criticizing the PP for having rejected similar proposals in Parliament after supporting a motion against the project in the A Laracha City Council. In her opinion, this contradiction between the municipal and regional levels It highlights the lack of coherence of the party in government.
Furthermore, the Socialist MP has accused the mayor of A Laracha, José Manuel López, of having withheld information and manipulated the neighborsIglesias claims he knew about the project since 2022 and failed to provide sufficient advance notice. He warns that the Galician government could impose the plant by declaring it a priority and of regional interest, using what he describes as a "free pass" for industrial projects with significant territorial impact, a provision made possible by the budget's accompanying legislation.
The PSdeG has also emphasized the scale of the infrastructure, noting that the plant would occupy approximately Sqm 16.000 and the treatment of up to 73.000 tons of waste annuallyThis would generate a constant flow of heavy traffic, intense and persistent odors, and potential damage to the Anllóns River and the surrounding natural environment. The group insists that these types of projects must undergo a much more rigorous and participatory debate before proceeding with the necessary procedures.
Meanwhile, other groups such as BNG They have focused their criticism on the implementation model of this and other biogas plants. The nationalist party warns that oversized initiatives like the one in Soandres respond primarily to the economic interests of the developers and not to rational territorial planning. The Bloc proposes a network of smaller, decentralized facilities linked to genuinely agricultural and local waste, with clear criteria for distance to population centers and areas of environmental and heritage exclusion.
At the supra-municipal level, the BNG of Culleredo has taken the matter to the local council, demanding an institutional stance against the plant due to its environmental, water and social impact, and calling for stricter regulations in Galicia that establish minimum distances from homes, rules on water consumption, effluent generation and digestate management, as well as the effective participation of the affected citizens.
The PP's position and the Xunta's role in the process
While the opposition attacks the project and the regulatory changes, the direction of the PPdeG and the Xunta de Galicia They maintain that the Soandres plant project is being processed rigorously and within legal channels. Popular Party deputy Rubén Lorenzo has called for calm and stressed that the residents' concerns are legitimate and deserve respect, but insisted that the regional government is obligated to manage the projects submitted, which does not mean automatically endorsing them.
Lorenzo points out that the plant is located in public information phaseThe parliamentarian described the process as open, transparent, and regulated by law. According to him, the final viability of the facility will depend on technical reports prepared by the relevant environmental, health, heritage, and waste management agencies. "If the project does not meet the required standards, it will not go ahead," he asserted, emphasizing that Galicia applies stringent technical criteria, including specific measures regarding odors to protect public health and the environment.
The Popular Party deputy criticized the Socialist proposal to suspend the authorization procedure as a precaution, arguing that the Xunta cannot halt a case without legal cause without violating the basic rights of the developers. The PP argues that the correct way to address these controversies is by informing, explaining, and listening to the public, and not, in Lorenzo's words, by generating alarm or misinformation.
In this context, the Galician government insists that the current regulatory framework already establishes safeguards and procedures, although neighborhood platforms and opposition groups maintain that there is a absence of specific and detailed regulation Regarding the location of biogas plants: minimum distances from population centers, exclusion zones, reinforced technical requirements, criteria of economic solvency of companies and binding citizen participation mechanisms.
The political disagreement thus translates into two opposing views: while the Xunta argues that projects should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the existing framework, the opposition demands a more profound regulatory reform that orders the deployment of these facilities and avoids the concentration of high-impact infrastructure in sensitive rural areas such as Soandres.
Citizen mobilization and information assemblies
Beyond the institutions, the struggle is also being waged in the arena of social mobilizationThe Stop Biogas A Laracha platform believes the project continues to move forward within the administration and that, therefore, maintaining local and political pressure is especially urgent. The group insists that the only satisfactory solution would be the definitive cancellation of the plant at its current location.
The A Laracha Town Council, in coordination with political parties and associations, has promoted open information assemblies to the entire population. One of the most well-attended meetings took place at the Casa da Cultura, where more than 300 people gathered to learn in detail about the project, the administrative steps already taken, and possible avenues for opposition. During the meeting, the technical specifications of the installation, the required reports, and the deadlines for submitting objections were explained.
To facilitate this participation, the City Council has made available complaint forms that residents can download from the municipal website or pick up at the administrative building and the business incubator in the industrial park. In addition, the option to submit complaints to the Xunta (Galician Regional Government) through the Interconnection of Registries System has been enabled, eliminating the need for travel and simplifying procedures for citizens.
The neighborhood platform encourages everyone to get involved in the process, emphasizing that the collective and institutional mobilization This could influence the regional government's final decision. Informational meetings have also been organized by the Stop Biogas A Laracha group itself, addressing not only the specific case of Soandres, but also the general situation of biogas projects in Spain and the recurrence of similar conflicts in other regions.
In these forums, neighborhood spokespeople emphasize that the root of the problem is the lack of state, regional and municipal planning for this type of facility. They demand that minimum distances to inhabited areas, ecological corridors free of high-impact industries, transparency requirements, and prior consultation mechanisms be defined to allow for the elimination of incompatible locations before projects enter advanced stages of processing.
What happens in Soandres is thus perceived as a test case This case could set the course for future biogas plants in Galicia and other regions. Local residents, municipalities, and political groups are aware that the outcome of this case could establish important precedents regarding the balance between energy transition, environmental protection, and the rights of local communities.
With the Soandres biogas plant still undergoing environmental assessment and institutions divided, the conflict remains unresolved. Caught between the promise of managing waste and producing renewable energy and the fear of an oversized project in a fragile rural environment, The region is still awaiting technical reports and political decisions which will determine whether this installation becomes a reality or is redirected to another location or a different model.