Dismantling of AENA fuel storage facility in Tenerife South: key points of favorable environmental report

Key data

Exolum Aviation SA can begin dismantling its hydrocarbon storage facility at Tenerife South airport after obtaining the favorable simplified environmental impact report issued on October 20, 2026. The resolution, published in the BOE on October 27, 2026, clears the final environmental hurdle for an operation affecting 10,500 m² of the airport domain and to be executed within an estimated period of four months.

The jet fuel tanks were previously emptied and cleaned in compliance with Royal Decree 1416/2006, so the pending phase is exclusively the demolition and waste management of the physical structures.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution formulates the simplified environmental impact report for the project to dismantle AENA's hydrocarbon storage facility in Tenerife South. This type of simplified report—distinct from an ordinary environmental impact assessment—is the applicable procedure when the project is not expected to have significant effects on the environment, provided that the established conditions are met.

The main elements regulated by the resolution are:

• Project objective: dismantling of jet fuel storage tanks and auxiliary buildings managed by Exolum Aviation SA.
• Demolition method: selective demolition, chosen over conventional demolition to allow greater recovery and recycling of materials.
• Previous state of tanks: emptied and cleaned in accordance with Royal Decree 1416/2006 before the report request.
• Area: 10,500 m² within the airport domain, with no new land occupations.
• Conditions incorporated into the report: the file included consultations with multiple regional and state bodies, with specific conditions on cultural heritage, hydrology, fauna and waste management.

The conditions imposed regarding cultural heritage, hydrology, fauna and waste are mandatory during the execution of works and must be integrated into the final execution project.

Economic and operational impact

For AENA and Exolum Aviation, obtaining the favorable report means formal authorization to execute the dismantling works without needing to process an ordinary environmental impact assessment, which significantly reduces administrative timelines.

From an operational perspective, the choice of selective demolition over conventional demolition has direct implications for waste management:

• Higher percentage of recoverable and recyclable materials from the tanks and auxiliary structures.
• Potential reduction in hazardous waste management costs through proper separation of material streams.
• Early compliance with circular economy requirements applicable to this type of industrial facility.

The waste management conditions imposed in the report require planning the traceability of all materials generated during the four weeks of work, which requires contracting authorized waste managers and documenting each output stream.

The cultural heritage and hydrology conditions may require archaeological supervision during earthmoving and the adoption of preventive measures against possible impacts to the subsoil, particularly relevant in an airport environment with underground infrastructure.

Who is affected?

• AENA: as owner of the airport domain, is responsible for ensuring that works are executed in accordance with the environmental report conditions.
• Exolum Aviation SA: operator of the storage facility, directly responsible for the dismantling project and compliance with imposed conditions.
• Environmental administrations of the Canary Islands: regional and state bodies consulted during the proceedings, with competencies for monitoring and controlling compliance with conditions.
• Authorized waste managers: companies that must intervene in the collection, transport and treatment of materials generated during selective demolition.
• Demolition contractors: companies that physically execute the works, obligated to comply with conditions on fauna, hydrology and cultural heritage.

Practical example

Exolum Aviation SA begins dismantling works in November 2026. During the first days, contractors detect signs of possible archaeological remains of interest in a perimeter area of the facility during earthmoving. Since the environmental report is conditioned on cultural heritage matters, the company is obligated to halt work in that area, notify the competent administration and wait for supervision by a specialized technician before continuing.

If Exolum had opted for conventional demolition instead of selective demolition, the mixture of materials—metals, concrete, possible hydrocarbon residues—would have made waste separation difficult and increased management costs. Selective demolition, on the other hand, allows recovery of metals from jet fuel tanks as recyclable scrap, reducing the volume of hazardous waste to be managed.

Works must be completed within a maximum estimated period of four months from the start, with complete documentation of waste management as a requirement for closing the environmental file.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the environmental report conditions: AENA and Exolum Aviation must identify all conditions imposed regarding cultural heritage, hydrology, fauna and waste management, and integrate them into the execution project before starting works.
2. Contract authorized waste managers: selective demolition requires specific managers for each material stream (metals, concrete, hazardous waste). They must be contracted before work begins.
3. Plan archaeological supervision: given that the report incorporates conditions on cultural heritage, it is advisable to provide for the presence of a specialized technician during earthmoving to avoid unplanned stoppages.
4. Document tank emptying and cleaning: although the tanks were already treated in accordance with Royal Decree 1416/2006, it is advisable to have documentation available to prove this for any inspection during works.
5. Coordinate with environmental administrations of the Canary Islands: the regional and state bodies consulted during the proceedings have monitoring competencies. Maintaining proactive communication reduces the risk of incidents during execution.
6. Adjust planning to the four-month timeline: the report estimates this execution period; significant deviations may require communication to the environmental administration.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at 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-2026-22516