Particle.news

Prosecutor Backs Halting Spain’s Largest Wind Project as Judge Weighs UCOMA Bribery Findings

The request follows a Guardia Civil dossier alleging a pay‑to‑approve scheme that used family companies alongside concealed notarial deals.

Overview

  • Teruel’s Investigating Court No. 1 will hear parties on Friday before deciding whether to impose a precautionary suspension on the Maestrazgo wind cluster, whose works have not begun.
  • UCOMA accuses former Miteco environmental evaluation chief Eugenio Domínguez of steering favorable impact declarations for Forestalia and channeling about €5.2 million through family‑linked firms including Dherco, Caliope and Babieca.
  • Investigators describe a parallel processing “black box,” citing auto‑assignment of Forestalia files, reliance on Tragsatec, and USB submissions that bypassed official registries to evade oversight.
  • The file portrays Forestalia owner Fernando Samper as principal private beneficiary, notes project fragmentation below 50 MW to keep approvals regional, and records pressure on Aragón’s INAGA technicians and the sidelining or alteration of unfavorable reports.
  • The prosecutor cites potential offences of misconduct, bribery, money laundering and organized crime, supports pausing the project over environmental risk to Natura 2000 areas, and proposes shifting the Miteco‑related casework to Madrid.