Melilla Port: EIA approved for 25 ha expansion and 2,400 m breakwater

Key data

After nearly a decade of processing, the Melilla port external expansion project has received environmental approval. The Resolution of 27 May 2026, published in the BOE of 17 June 2026, formulates the Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) that enables the project to advance to the contracting and execution phase. For construction companies, civil engineering and port operators, this means the project enters the pre-tender phase with environmental conditions already defined.

What does this regulation establish?

The EIA is the administrative document that authorizes—with conditions—the execution of a project with significant environmental impact. Without it, works cannot begin. Its approval is not the start of works, but the essential prerequisite for the Melilla Port Authority to tender and contract the construction.

The approved project contemplates the following main elements:

• External breakwater of 2,400 meters built with concrete caissons.
• Esplanade of 25 hectares gained from the sea, intended to expand the port's logistics and operational capacity.
• Dredging of 5.7 million cubic meters to adjust the necessary draft.
• Channel and bridge of 90 meters, technical solution adopted to avoid direct impact on the colony of Patella ferruginea (ferruginous limpet) present in the existing breakwater.

The determining environmental factor throughout the entire process has been the protection of Patella ferruginea, a species listed as endangered. The current breakwater houses more than 24,000 specimens, which made the protection of this colony the main design restriction. The alternative finally chosen—channel plus 90 m bridge—is the solution that allows the expansion to be compatible with species conservation.

The processing procedure was initiated between 2017 and 2018 and has required multiple rounds of consultations and amendments until 2026, with reports from several general directorates of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO).

Economic and operational impact

The approval of the EIA has direct consequences on the timeline and business planning of several actors:

• Construction and civil engineering companies: The EIA opens the door to tendering. With a 2,400 m breakwater in concrete caissons, dredging of 5.7 million m³ and a 25 ha esplanade, this is a large-scale work with an execution horizon of four years. Companies in the sector must monitor the tender call from the Melilla Port Authority.
• Port operators and shipping companies: The expansion will significantly increase the port's operational capacity. Medium-term operations planning (4-8 years ahead) should contemplate the new infrastructure.
• Marine environmental specialist companies: The condition of protecting Patella ferruginea and the design of the 90 m channel-bridge will generate demand for environmental consulting services, monitoring and control throughout the entire works phase.
• Logistics sector in Melilla: The 25 hectares of new esplanade represent a relevant expansion of the autonomous city's storage and cargo handling capacity.

Who does it affect?

• Melilla Port Authority — project promoter, responsible for tendering and execution.
• Construction and maritime civil works companies — potential bidders for the construction of the breakwater, dredging and esplanade.
• Engineering and environmental consulting firms — necessary for monitoring the environmental conditions imposed in the EIA, especially those related to Patella ferruginea.
• Logistics operators and shipping companies with activity in Melilla port — affected by operational restrictions during works and benefited by the new capacity.
• Suppliers of concrete caissons and maritime construction materials — direct project suppliers.

Practical example

A construction company specialized in maritime civil works that wants to bid for this project must take into account the following conditions already defined in the EIA:

• The design of the 2,400 m breakwater must respect the 90 m channel and bridge established to protect the colony of more than 24,000 specimens of Patella ferruginea. Any technical proposal that does not contemplate this solution will fall outside the approved environmental requirements.
• The dredging volume is 5.7 million m³, which implies large-scale logistics planning for extraction, transport and material management during the four years of work.
• The company must incorporate a marine environmental monitoring plan in its bid, given that the EIA has been the result of multiple MITECO reports and species protection is a binding condition.

What should companies do now?

1. Monitor the tender call from the Melilla Port Authority. The approved EIA is the step prior to tendering. Construction companies and suppliers must activate alerts on the Public Sector Contracting Platform to not miss the announcement.
2. Review the environmental conditions of the EIA. Any company participating in the tender must know the design restrictions imposed, especially the 90 m channel and bridge to protect Patella ferruginea. These conditions are binding and affect the technical design of bids.
3. Plan operational capacity for a four-year project. The estimated duration of works implies committing human resources, specialized machinery (dredging, concrete caissons) and supply chain over an extended horizon.
4. Incorporate marine environmental expertise. The protection of Patella ferruginea and dredging of 5.7 million m³ will require environmental monitoring plans. Companies without internal capacity must identify specialized partners or subcontractors.
5. Update logistics planning if you operate in Melilla port. Works over four years will affect port operations. Logistics operators and shipping companies must anticipate possible access and capacity restrictions during the construction phase.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13196