Andorra Opposition Slams Heliport Cost Overruns and Forest Destruction

The opposition Social Democratic Party (PS) criticised the La Caubella heliport's cost overruns and environmental effects during a control session at the Consell General, as the government defended the project and advanced plans for a backup facility at the Santa Coloma firefighters' station.

General Councillor Laia Moliné stated that the project's total cost has climbed to €16.55 million, well above the initial €10 million forecast in 2023 documents. She flagged execution delays, raised doubts about whether the facility meets the standards needed to warrant public spending, and called the impact on the Caubella forest site a "destruction" across 24,000 square metres. Moliné called for defined operational, economic, and public service goals, plus performance metrics and risk assessments. She also questioned ongoing investments at Santa Coloma given La Caubella's primary role.

Head of government Xavier Espot described the heliport as vital for managing all national air operations, including international flights, rescues, emergencies, and civil protection. He dismissed profitability as the yardstick for success, deeming it inappropriate, and highlighted safety gains aligned with OACI standards. Espot said 95% of landings should occur at La Caubella, with 5% redirected to Santa Coloma due to weather or other constraints. He accused the PS of opposing every heliport proposal and pressed them for a clear stance.

Espot clarified the state's liability is limited to €8.9 million—the ceiling for 75% of the fixed construction price with the concessionaire—plus €1.3 million for risk matrix adjustments. To date, €6.5 million has been disbursed, with future payments tied to yearly outcomes: the concessionaire absorbs deficits up to its cap or reimburses surpluses to the government. Construction overruns do not affect public coffers directly, as site selection emphasised technical and safety needs away from urban zones. Full international operations will roll out progressively after the June 22 inauguration, though no firm completion date was set, pending items like the Entry-Exit System.

On Santa Coloma, the government approved a €30,000 tender (IGI included) on June 10 via the Secretariat of State for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility. The contract covers project design and construction oversight for works estimated at €200,000 to create a 15-metre diameter landing platform suited for medium helicopters such as the H135, H145, or Bell 429. This includes tree trimming, obstacle removal, and support features like fuel storage. A viability study confirmed the site's potential as a complementary emergency helistop when La Caubella is unavailable. The selected firm has two months from contract award to deliver the project, aiming for readiness before the fourth quarter. Bids close July 17, with envelopes opened July 23. Officials opted against splitting the contract into lots to prevent coordination challenges and ensure technical efficiency.

Ciutadans Compromesos councillor Carles Naudi backed the project, noting the affected forest area represents less than 0.002% of the total 10.9 million square metres and praising rehabilitation efforts to blend the site into the landscape.