The plan to bring natural gas from the Spanish mainland to Ibiza and then Mallorca by undersea pipeline has been featured in our news on several occasions.
Now the work is almost complete, its effects can clearly be seen, some good and some bad. On the good side, during the Ibiza to Mallorca section of pipe laying, a medieval galley was discovered at a depth of 600 metres and directly in the path of the pipes.
The heritage department immediately authorised a slight diversion to create a 50 metre protected zone around the vessel which is now believed to be a Moorish vessel from the 12th or 13th centuries when the islands were in Muslim hands.
On the downside, the BBQ area which was opened for the public in Cala Gracioneta only two years ago will be engulfed by the facilities for bringing the gas onto dry land.
Happily, Enagas, the company responsible for the pipeline have agreed to hand over €70,000 – the cost of the BBQ area – which will be relocated in the new recreational area of Sa Talaia which is quite close by.