This payment puts an end to a claim dating back to 1992, which has resulted in a total disbursement of almost 45 million euros for the city. The dispute originated from the management of sanitation and treatment services, which were excluded from the initial contract with Emalsa in 1992.
The company claimed accumulated losses since 2014, stemming from the application of tariffs that did not cover service costs. These claims span several periods, totaling 5.36 million euros (2014-2016), 13.27 million (2017-2021), and 14.97 million (2022-2023).
The situation was exacerbated by an increase in treated volumes and the implementation of new prices, judicially set at 0.41 euros per cubic meter in 2017 and 0.66 euros in 2022. The debt for 2024 amounted to 8.01 million euros, and invoices for 2025 totaled 2.04 million.
The payment of the 9 million euros recognized this Thursday by the Presidency, Finance, and Economic Promotion commission aims not only to settle the principal of the debt but also to minimize potential claims for late payment interest.
From now on, the new tariff structure, approved in August 2025, will allow for the gradual passing on of cost increases to users, eliminating the 26-year transitional situation in the sewerage contract. A multi-year tariff plan until 2029 is projected.
Additionally, 148,297 euros will be paid for the sludge deposit fee from December 2024. This obligation arises from a fee imposed by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria in 2013, which led to unforeseen extra costs for Emalsa and resulted in rulings in favor of the company and new claims due to the increased cost per ton of sludge.
