The General Budgets of the State, extended from the year 2023, authorize the creation of the Consortium ‘National Center of Volcanology’, which plans to have a management of 50% of the State – through the Ministry of Science – and 50% by the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The General State Administration’s budget for its implementation amounts to five million euros. The Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, states that “the 2021 volcanic eruption highlighted the need for a national coordination center that would allow the unified management of the efforts of all public agencies.” In this sense, the center is conceived as an entity that promotes scientific and technological research in the field of volcanology and optimizes the management of volcanic risk in Spain.
Characteristics of the scientific institution
The report approved today from Moncloa determines that the physical space should consist of about 300 square meters, with capacity for expansion according to future needs, with multifunctional spaces, meeting rooms, parking and digital communications, among other equipment. La Palma and Tenerife have announced that they will present a joint candidacy and, in the case of La Palma, it is planned to use the Insular Business and Industrial Center -former factory of the JTI - which was managed as a logistics point for donations and household goods during the eruption of the Tajogaite.
The Commission that evaluates the candidacies will take into account that the Autonomous Governing Council, in this case of the Canary Islands, justifies the suitability of the proposal presented. In addition, in case several have been postulated, the order of preference must be indicated. The selection will be made, according to Izquierdo, “following a competitive system that integrates criteria such as territorial cohesion, the effectiveness of public services and transparency”.
The personnel working at the Volcanological Center must be composed of different profiles and the possibility of access to various natural volcanic environments with significant activity will be positively assessed. In addition, air transport infrastructures that facilitate national and international connectivity and that there is a sufficient real estate offer for workers will be taken into account. In addition, the document highlights the measures that encourage the mobility of staff attached to the centre and the implementation of support programmes for family integration and reunification.