Mobile explosives factory in Tabernas: environmental conditions for mining and construction in Almería

Key data

Mining, quarry and construction companies operating in Almería have a new framework of conditions that directly affects the supply and use of explosives in the area. The General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment has declared the mobile explosives factory project in Tabernas environmentally viable through Resolution of April 20, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-9274), but with conditions that have binding effects for the entire project authorization chain.

These types of mobile explosives installations are commonly used in mining, quarry and large civil infrastructure works. The resolution is not a minor procedure: its conditions are mandatory for the substantive authorization of the project and for any subsequent municipal or sectoral license.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution formulates the environmental impact report for the mobile explosives factory project in the municipality of Tabernas (Almería) and declares it environmentally viable with conditions. This means the project can proceed, but only if the promoter complies with a set of preventive and corrective measures.

The areas subject to measures are:

• Soil: preventive and corrective measures to minimize effects in the semi-arid environment of Tabernas.
• Flora: protection of vegetation characteristic of the environment.
• Fauna: minimization of impacts on species present in the area.
• Landscape: correction of the visual impact of the installation on the environment.

Additionally, the promoter is obligated to execute an environmental monitoring program covering two distinct phases:

The report has binding effects for the substantive authorization of the project and for any subsequent municipal or sectoral license. This means that no organization can grant permits without the promoter having proven compliance with these conditions.

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this resolution is not only for the installation promoter. It has direct operational consequences for all companies that depend on the supply of explosives produced in this mobile factory for their works in the Almería area.

The main operational effects are:

• Supply conditioning: if the promoter does not comply with environmental conditions, the installation cannot operate, affecting the availability of explosives for mining, quarry and infrastructure works in the area.
• Review of own licenses: user companies must verify that their explosives use authorizations are compatible with the conditions imposed in this resolution, as any subsequent sectoral license remains bound to it.
• Work planning: construction or mining projects that depend on this supply source must incorporate into their planning the promoter's environmental compliance timelines, which affect the factory's operational start date.
• Compliance costs for the promoter: the execution of the environmental monitoring program during construction and operation entails additional costs that the promoter must assume and which may be passed on to the supply price.

Who does it affect?

• Promoter of the mobile explosives factory in Tabernas: directly obligated to comply with all environmental conditions and the monitoring program.
• Mining companies in Almería: regular users of explosives in their extraction processes, dependent on the supply from installations like this.
• Quarries in the province of Almería: need explosives for the extraction of aggregates and construction materials; local supply is key to their operations.
• Construction companies for large civil infrastructure: works on roads, tunnels and other infrastructure requiring blasting in the area.
• Explosives sector companies: distributors and suppliers operating in the Almería market whose activity may be affected by the imposed conditions.
• Local administrations and sectoral organizations: any organization that must grant municipal or sectoral licenses related to the project remains bound by this report.

Practical example

A construction company awarded a civil infrastructure work in the province of Almería—for example, a road bypass requiring blasting—has planned in its schedule the supply of explosives from the Tabernas mobile factory.

Before confirming that supply in its contract with the factory promoter, the construction company must:

1. Verify that the promoter has obtained the substantive authorization for the project, which can only be granted if compliance with the environmental conditions of this resolution is proven.
2. Check that the municipal and sectoral licenses necessary for the factory's operation are in force, as all remain bound to the environmental impact report.
3. Incorporate into its work planning a time margin for possible delays arising from compliance with the environmental monitoring program during the installation construction phase.

If the construction company does not perform this prior verification and the promoter has not complied with environmental conditions, it may find that the factory is not operational at the planned time, directly affecting the schedule and costs of its work.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if they depend on this supply: mining, quarry and construction companies with active or planned projects in Almería must assess whether their operations depend on the supply of explosives from the Tabernas mobile factory.
2. Verify the status of the promoter's authorizations: before formalizing supply contracts, check that the promoter has obtained the substantive authorization for the project, conditioned on compliance with the environmental report.
3. Review own licenses and authorizations: user companies must ensure that their explosives use authorizations are compatible with the conditions established in Resolution BOE-A-2026-9274.
4. Update work planning: incorporate into project schedules the promoter's environmental compliance timelines, especially during the installation construction phase.
5. Consult with specialists in environmental and explosives regulations: given that the imposed conditions have binding effects on the entire license chain, it is recommended to review the full text of the resolution with technical-legal support.