Ceuta has been directly connected to mainland Spain’s electricity grid for the first time since 26 September 2026. The transmission system operator Red Eléctrica announced that the technical installations for the new connection had been energised and were ready for operation. This means the mainland can secure the Electricity supply of the North African exclave in the event of disruptions. Under the applicable rules, regular commercial electricity exchange is scheduled to begin on 1 November 2026.
The connection is a double-circuit line with a rated voltage of 132 kilovolts. Its central component is a Undersea cable through the Strait of Gibraltar, supplemented by onshore connection sections at both ends. The project is part of the Planificación eléctrica 2021–2026. A key aim was to end Ceuta’s previous dependence on locally generated, predominantly fossil-fuel energy. Red Eléctrica expects greater security of supply, lower generation costs in the city and better opportunities to integrate renewable energy.
The legal basis for operating and billing for the new line is set out in Real Decreto-ley 18/2026 of 29 June 2026. It extends key operating rules already in force for the connection to the Balearic Islands to the route between mainland Spain and Ceuta. This establishes the regulatory framework for the start of scheduled electricity exchanges on 1 November 2026. The date of adoption is given in the Boletín Oficial del Estado documented.
The background is a supply situation in Ceuta that has been strained for years. Limited local capacity and the high operating costs of thermal generation have repeatedly led to bottlenecks and above-average costs. The new line is intended to increase security reserves in the short term and reduce system costs in the medium term. However, this does not automatically mean that consumers’ bills will fall immediately; network charges, national levies and market prices also play a part.
Several operational issues remain unresolved: the future role of Ceuta’s existing thermal generation needs to be clarified, for example through reserve or capacity mechanisms. Details of network charges for the city and environmental requirements for operating and maintaining the undersea cable are also relevant. Further quantifiable data will be needed after commissioning to make reliable assessments of the economic effects and consumer prices. What is clear is that the Interconnection is available, and the planned start of regulated electricity exchange on 1 November 2026 will mark the beginning of Ceuta’s gradual integration into the mainland Spanish system.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).