The restoration program of quarries of the Generalitat had, during 2018, a total of 445 inspections on 384 extractive activities, according to the report released at the last meeting of the Advisory Council of Aggregates of Catalonia, held in Barcelona on July 10. The Advisory Board, formed by technicians of the Catalan administration from different areas (business, environment, territory, mines …), representatives of the industrial sectors involved, among which Ciment Català, and other entities such as professional associations, universities, unions or NGOs, highlighted paradigmatic ways of restoration and its follow-up, with advanced information techniques such as the use of drones, the obtaining of spectral profiles and the computerized reproduction of orography.
The restoration plans are part of the exploitation concessions granted by the Generalitat, who are intended to enhance the biodiversity of animal or plant species in each area, and to promote the environmental impact of these natural areas.
The meeting of the Council also served to analyze the demand for aggregate and propose the study of the balance with the supply available in the medium and long term in Catalonia to cover the needs for the future construction or maintenance of infrastructures. The general situation of the sector was also presented during 2018 and more technical and normative aspects of quarry exploitation licenses were reviewed, such as the census of extractive activities subject to environmental intervention, the incorporation of environmental conditions to mining permits, inspections of the beginning and end of the guarantee period or the deposit and return of the restoration bonds, among other matters.