La biogas plant planned for El Cubo del VinoIn the Tierra del Vino region of Zamora, the area has become one of the most intense focal points of environmental debate in the region in recent months. In the context of Biogas boom in SpainThe project, which already has the approval of the regional administration in terms of environmental impact, now faces a new phase of institutional and social controversy.
A group of neighbors organized around the Healthy Villages Association They have taken their opposition a step further, submitting a formal request to overturn the resolution that granted environmental authorization for the facility. With this, they seek to have the Regional Government of Castile and León re-examine the El Cubo del Vino biogas plant project, this time taking into account what they consider to be significant shortcomings in environmental assessment.
The request for revocation of the environmental authorization
The initiative to halt the project's progress stems from Healthy Villages Association, a group that brings together residents from several municipalities in the area: The Wine Land Cube, El Maderal, Cuelgamures, Fuentespreadas, Villamor and ArgujilloThis group arose precisely because of the concern generated in the region regarding the possible implementation of the biogas plant and other similar facilities.
According to the association itself, last January 2 registered with the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Land Use Planning of the Junta de Castilla y León a request for revocation of the favorable environmental impact assessment which supports the El Cubo del Vino biogas plant project. This administrative step aims to nullify the environmental approval granted by the competent authority.
The contested resolution was issued by the General Directorate of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability, that he December 16th 2025 granted a favorable environmental report for the construction of the plant, conditioning it on the compliance with a series of requirements set out in both the environmental impact statement and the study presented by the promoting company, as well as the applicable urban planning and sectoral regulations.
For Pueblos Sanos, the existence of this condition is not enough, because they maintain that the evaluation procedure itself presents fundamental deficienciesTherefore, they are demanding that the regional government reconsider and conduct a comprehensive review of the file before the project continues its processing with the remaining necessary permits.
Who opposes the biogas plant and why?
Opposition to the project is not limited to the municipality of El Cubo del Vino. Both in the information disseminated by the association itself and in the documents submitted, it is emphasized that the platform includes residents of six towns in the Tierra del Vino region: El Cubo de Tierra del Vino, El Maderal, Cuelgamures, Fuentespreadas, Villamor and Argujillo.
According to the collective's account, the birth of Pueblos Sanos was motivated by the Neighbors' concerns about the installation of this type of infrastructurewith particular attention to the planned biogas plant in El Cubo del Vino. Some residents fear that the chosen location and the characteristics of the facility could negatively impact the rural area where they live.
Since its creation, the association has reiterated its rejection of the proposed location for the plantThey are not so much commenting on the biogas technology itself as on the chosen location and the specific environmental and territorial conditions of the surrounding area. In their opinion, the project presents risks to the quality of life of the residents and the balance of the rural environment.
In the documents they have submitted to the Board, Pueblos Sanos expressly asks the environmental authorities to reconsider the favorable resolutionnoting that issues of sufficient magnitude have been detected to render it ineffective. The association speaks of “compelling reasons” when requesting the revocation of the environmental authorization that currently protects the El Cubo del Vino biogas plant project.
Deficiencies noted in the environmental impact assessment
The core of the Healthy Villages petition rests on a technical report that, they explain, examines the environmental file in detailBased on this analysis, the association argues that the evaluation did not adequately assess various key factors for a project of this nature in Castile and León.
Among the main objections, the group mentions urban planning aspects related to land use on which the biogas plant is planned to be built. In his opinion, there has been insufficient consideration of urban planning regulations and the specific site conditions, which could affect the legal viability of the infrastructure.
They also focus their criticism on the hydrological part of the study, where they indicate that it was not taken into account with the necessary level of detail. the proximity of watercourses, even if they are intermittentnor the presence in the immediate environment of protected bodies of water for human supplyIn a region where water is an essential resource, they emphasize that any facility of this type should thoroughly analyze its potential impact on water.
Another point highlighted in the report refers to the proximity to livestock farms The integration of the plant into an area already characterized by a strong presence of agricultural and livestock activity is a concern. The association fears that this combination could have unforeseen consequences, both in terms of odors and emissions, and in terms of waste management.
Furthermore, Healthy Villages emphasizes the impact on areas included in the Natura 2000 Network or in close contact with this European environmental protection network. Should a significant or poorly assessed impact on these protected areas be confirmed, the group believes that the favorable authorization should be reviewed, taking into account European and Spanish regulations governing biodiversity conservation.
Characteristics of the biogas plant project in El Cubo del Vino
The project referred to in the revocation request belongs to the company Biorig Energy Cubo del Vino – Zamora SLThe company promoting the biogas plant in the municipality of El Cubo de Tierra del Vino. The facility is conceived as a treatment plant for agricultural and livestock waste for the production of biogas and other usable by-products, in line with new projects and innovation in the biogas sector.
According to the documentation held by the administration, the plant is designed to receive up to 198.000 tons of waste per yearwhich translates into a 547 tons dailyIt is, therefore, a facility of considerable scale for the rural environment in which it is located, which would concentrate a very significant volume of materials from the primary sector.
The list of planned waste is dominated by the pig slurry, with about 93.000 tons per yearFollowed by cow dung, with approximately 45.000 tonnes To this is added the contribution of corn straw, around 47.000 tonnes , and chicken manure, with others 13.000 tons per yearAll of these are common waste products in areas with a significant presence of livestock and agricultural operations.
The favorable environmental impact statement issued by the Board states that the plant can only be carried out if it meets the conditions established in the resolutionin the environmental impact study and in all other applicable regulations, including urban planning regulations. However, for the Healthy Villages association, the shortcomings detected in the preliminary technical analysis make it necessary to thoroughly review the environmental viability of the project.
With the resolution in force, the works of the biogas plant in El Cubo del Vino could begin once the developer obtains the remaining permits required by sector regulations, including municipal licenses and other specific authorizations. It is precisely at this point in the process that the revocation request seeks to introduce a halt, opening the door for the Board to re-evaluate the file.
Neighborhood context and claims from social and environmental groups
The response to the project is not new. During the public exposure period According to the environmental impact study, the biogas plant project in El Cubo del Vino has already received a significant number of objections from various groups. These include: Ecologists in Action of Zamora, the Cultural Association Friends of Velilla, the Viriatos Zamora Association and the Zamora Viva platform, And a Platform for the Defense of the Territory and various individuals.
These organizations and citizens raised concerns similar to those now being raised by Pueblos Sanos: impact on the natural environment and water resources, possible effects on the health and well-being of the nearby population, and doubts about the compatibility of the project with the rural development model they want for the Tierra del Vino region; concerns that recall debates such as the biogas plan in Castilla-La Mancha.
Although the regional government ultimately decided to grant a favorable environmental assessment, the objections raised reflect a divided social climateOn one hand, there are those who see biogas as an opportunity to valorize agricultural and livestock waste and generate renewable energy in Spain; on the other, there are those who fear that, without exhaustive control, these infrastructures could cause inconveniences and risks in rural areas.
The current recall petition filed by Pueblos Sanos adds to this history of citizen protest. For the group, the fact that they carried out what they describe as a “rigorous technical study” This reinforces their arguments and encourages them to request a more in-depth review of the case file, both from a technical and legal perspective.
From an institutional perspective, the ball is now back in the court of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning, which will have to assess the documentation provided by the association and determine whether or not the revocation of the favorable environmental assessment is warranted. Depending on that decision, the future of the El Cubo del Vino biogas plant could proceed as planned or be forced to be reconsidered.
With the Healthy Villages application on the table and a large-scale project at stake, the El Cubo del Vino biogas plant has become a paradigmatic example of This debate is taking place in many rural areas of Spain.How to fit renewable energy facilities and agricultural waste management into territories where the protection of the environment, water and the quality of life of the residents are perceived as non-negotiable issues, and where citizen participation seeks to have a decisive role in the decisions that shape the future of the territory.
