Balearics news. April 14

Balearics news selection from the last seven days and upcoming items including electricity, a national park, a new album and various increases. Published on Tuesdays.

Balearics news

Electricity use on the up

The demand for electricity during March in the Balearic Islands reached 435,101 megawatts per hour (MWh), which represents an increase of 4.9% compared to the same month in 2014, while the average Spanish increase was 1.1 per cent.

The figures were released in a report from the cooperative Som Energia from the data published by Exarxa Eléctrica.

The highest demand was on Monday April 16 with a peak at 9pm on that day. During the first three months of 2015, electricity demand grew on the Balearic Islands by 7.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, while in the whole of Spain the annual increase was 2.3 per cent.

The report explained that the main energy source for generating electricity is coal, with 41 per cent in March; another 22.4 per cent of the juice came from the mainland via submarine cable, 11.9 per cent comes from diesel engines, 8.7 per cent from gas turbines. 2 3 per cent of the electricity consumed last year in the archipelago came from solar photovoltaic panels and finally wind generators provided 0.1 per cent.

Cabrera park renewal

The Marítimo Terrestre de Cabrera National Park has renewed its declaration as an Area of Special Interest for the Mediterranean (ZEPIM) after passing an audit conducted by an international committee of experts coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment in March.

The park was declared an Area of Special Interest for the Mediterranean in 2003 and every six years it must pass a management audit to verify the evolution of the park and its surroundings. In the second audit the park was approved for 56 of the 69 items assessed. One of the most highly rated aspects valued by auditors was that the park has a specific fishing plan, a system for collecting scientific data an efficient and regulations. It also highlighted the efforts made to bring to others the knowledge of the marine environment in the land, and the effort and success of the managers to continue to exercise effective management despite budget cuts resulting from the crisis.

In their conclusions, the auditors emphasized the Cabrera management model as an example to follow for other protected areas in the Mediterranean.

The natural marine and coastal area enjoys special environmental protection, created under the Barcelona Convention for the protection of unique marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea. Among the obligations of ZEPIM to keep the title, it must have a legal system for effective protection, a management plan and a program to collect relevant data, well established goals and measures for conservation and well defined management. The management structure must have sufficient financial and human resources as well as a continuous monitoring program. The auditors also evaluated the exceptional nature of the park, the levels of natural and cultural representation and diversity. It looked at the presence of habitats for endangered species, threatened or endemic, and the existence of threats that may impair the ecological, biological, aesthetic or cultural areas.

Other elements taken into account are the existence of a planning process and proof that the area that has public support. There must be opportunities in the area for sustainable development and an integrated coastal management plan.

The National Park also has other designations, one of which is Zone of Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) and Site of Community Importance marina (LIC) and is part of the Natura 2000 network of the European Union.The archipelago was declared a National Park in April 1991 and has a protected area of 10,021 ha, of which 8,703 are in the sea and the rest make up the archipelago of islands and islets.

Mallorca news

Third album for Joan Miguel Oliver

The composer, lyricist and guitarist, Joan Miquel Oliver, has released his third solo album, Pegasus, since the dissolution of the Mallorquin band, Antonia Font. in November 2013.

The artist will present the album on a tour that will starts on April 25 during the Strenes Festival of Girona and yesterday (April 13) he was in Barcelona promoting the album, which is now available in digital format.

Pegasus is the third solo album by Oliver, and comes after Surfistes en càmera lenta in 2005 and Bonbon Mallorquin in 2009.

“This culminates a process of truly Herculean proportions which led him to record every instrument in the strictest privacy of his study enlisting the help of Quimi Portet to record voices and make the blends,” says the blurb sent by the Musician’s office.

During his tour to promote the album, which includes concerts in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, Oliver will be joined by fellow former member of Antonia Font, Jaume Manresa, on keyboards and drummer Oliver Xarli.

Terrace number increases

The number of terraces of bars and restaurants in Palma, Mallorca, has increased by 22.8 per cent in the first three months of the year compared to the same period of 2014, as reported by the council in a statement.

In particular, during the period from January 1 to April 8, 2015, the ajuntament has granted 699 permits for the installation of seating on terraces of bars and restaurants compared to 569 last year. In addition, there are currently 67 requests for use of public spaces for terraces that are still in processing. The Deputy Mayor for Public Service and Government Affairs, Irene San Gil, said that these figures indicate that, on one hand, new bars and restaurants have opened, and secondly that there are establishments that previously had no terrace service and now want it.

The terraces contribute to job creation and boosting the city while also creating and attractive environment explained the deputy mayor. This data is in line with other indicators of economic recovery of the area, such as the 25.8 per cent increase in hiring activity and decreasing unemployment figures by 10.5 per cent in March.

March was the thirtieth consecutive month of decline in unemployment in Palma, stressed Gil. The request increase for use of public spaces of the terraces is now three fiscal months. The rate payable by owners of these establishments is calculated based on two parameters: the surface of the terrace and street category. In Palma there five different road categories, with prices ranging from €6.64 per square meter quarterly on the streets up to €41.20 per square meter in the “special” category.

Menorca news

Airport reports increase

Menorca Airport recorded a total of 74,967 passengers during March, according to figures released by Menocrca airport directors. This represents an increase of 15.7 per cent over the same month in 2014, although we should note the significant impact of Easter.

The number of operations carried out during the past month was 995, growing 7 percent. Of these, 971 were commercial, with an increase of 7.4 per cent.

Operations with domestic origin or destination were 945, showing an increase of 6.3 per cent, while international movements recorded 26, 73.3 percent more than in the same month last year.

Passenger numbers accumulated in Menorca Airport in the first three months of the year amounted to 172,164, representing an increase of 5.2 percent over the same period last year.

Migjorn street works

Work on the main street of Migjorn has been estimated at €504,810 for the section between Sa Plaça and calle Cap de la Vila.

The figure was made public by the Consistory once the drafting of works by the engineer Joan J. Morro was complete, and for which the council has paid €12,100.

The Mayor of Es Migjorn, Pere Moll, said that work will start from 2016 and the aim is to fund it with the cooperation of other administrations.

The proposed reform of the oldest part of the main street of Es Migjorn complements the pedestrian area, already initiated years ago, specifically the L’Església square and streets Cristófol Sant Francesc d ‘ Albranca and Maria Auxiliadora.

The works have a threefold purpose, explained the mayor. Firstly, to improve the sewer and street provide new services such as fiber optic and natural gas, in addition to bury electrical wiring.

Second, to install a rainwater drainage system, which would resolve the problem when rainwater accumulates.

And finally, safety, because work will commence to remove the narrow sidewalks and pave the whole street at the same level. The tiles to be used are the same that have been installed in the rest of pedestrian streets of Migjorn.

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.