Gaussa-Saguntum Power Line: What Changes for Companies and Landowners in Sagunto

Key data

Landowners of properties along the route of the new Gaussa-Saguntum electrical transmission line in Sagunto (Valencia) may be affected by a forced expropriation procedure as of September 16, 2026. The Resolution of September 3, 2026 from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines grants Red Eléctrica de España, SAU both prior administrative authorization and construction authorization, along with the declaration of public utility that activates this mechanism.

The infrastructure also includes the by-pass of the 400 kV lines Eliana-Gaussa and Morvedre-Gaussa 2, which expands the scope of the project beyond a simple new line.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants three simultaneous authorizations to Red Eléctrica de España, SAU:

• Prior administrative authorization: approval of the project in the planning phase.
• Administrative construction authorization: permission to physically execute the works.
• Declaration of public utility: enables forced expropriation of private land necessary for the route.

The project comprises two distinct elements:

The project passed environmental impact assessment with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) issued in May 2026. That EIA imposes specific conditions that Red Eléctrica must comply with during construction and operation:

• Surveys of protected flora in the area of influence of the route.
• Compensatory forestry work in the Muntanyeta de les Lloses, covering an area of 10 hectares.

The Municipality of Sagunto, which initially opposed the project for urban planning and environmental reasons, ultimately issued a favorable report, unblocking the administrative process.

Economic and operational impact

For industrial companies installed or planned in Parc Sagunt, this authorization is good news: the new infrastructure strengthens the capacity and reliability of the electrical transmission network in the Comunitat Valenciana, reducing the risk of bottlenecks in high-voltage supply that feeds large industrial consumers.

For landowners along the route, the impact is the opposite: the declaration of public utility activates the forced expropriation procedure. This means that Red Eléctrica can initiate occupation of the necessary land, with corresponding assessed compensation, but without the ability to block the project once public utility has been declared.

The environmental conditions of the EIA (flora surveys and forestry work on 10 ha) fall on Red Eléctrica as the project promoter, not on third parties. However, companies in the surrounding area with agricultural or forestry activity in the Muntanyeta de les Lloses area should be alert to possible access or activity restrictions during the work.

Who is affected?

• Red Eléctrica de España, SAU: holder of the authorizations and responsible for project execution and compliance with EIA environmental conditions.
• Landowners along the route (Sagunto, Valencia): affected by the declaration of public utility and the resulting forced expropriation procedure.
• Parc Sagunt companies: beneficiaries of the reinforcement in the electrical transmission network and improved supply security.
• Large industrial consumers in the area: any company with high electrical demand in the Sagunto area and Comunitat Valenciana that depends on the 400 kV transmission network.
• Municipality of Sagunto: involved in the urban planning and environmental process, with a favorable report issued.
• Agricultural and forestry activities in Muntanyeta de les Lloses: possible temporary impact during compensatory forestry work on the 10 hectares.

Practical example

A company owning an agricultural plot in the municipality of Sagunto whose land falls within the route of the Gaussa-Saguntum line will receive formal notification of the start of forced expropriation proceedings from Red Eléctrica de España. Since public utility has been declared, the company cannot prevent land occupation, but it does have the right to participate in the valuation process and to challenge the fair price (compensation) if it disagrees with the proposed assessment. The timeline and specific conditions of each expropriation will be determined in the individual file, but the declaration of public utility is already in effect as of September 16, 2026.

On the other hand, a manufacturing company installed in Parc Sagunt with a high-voltage electrical supply contract can anticipate that the new infrastructure will improve local network redundancy, reducing the risk of interruptions due to saturation or failure in the current Eliana-Gaussa and Morvedre-Gaussa 2 circuits.

What should companies do now?

1. Landowners in Sagunto: verify if your properties are included in the official route of the Gaussa-Saguntum line. If you receive expropriation notification, consult a lawyer specializing in forced expropriation before accepting the proposed fair price.
2. Parc Sagunt companies and large industrial consumers: review with your electrical supply manager how the new infrastructure will affect your contracts and conditions for access to the transmission network.
3. Agricultural or forestry activities in Muntanyeta de les Lloses: contact Red Eléctrica de España to learn about the schedule for forestry work on the 10 affected hectares and anticipate possible access restrictions.
4. Any company with interests in the area: consult the complete resolution published in the BOE of September 16, 2026 to verify the exact route, EIA conditions and project timelines.

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-2026-19316