The role of the Compañía de Riegos de Levante S.A. in the development of electricity in south-east Spain (1918-1940)

Abstract

Studies on the development of hydroelectricity in early twentieth century in Spain have paid very little attention to the south-eastern part of the country, specifically the provinces of Alicante and Murcia. The specific needs of this industry (regular flowing rivers and with steep slopes) were in conflict with the fact that there is only one large river in the area, the Segura River, with a scarce flow and major droughts. However, issues related to the use of its waters for irrigation, or periodic flooding or drought, have been prominent themes in research on the Segura River. Despite this, a single company, the Compañía Riegos de Levante S.A. became the most important generator and distributor of electricity in the area until its sale to Hidroeléctrica Española in 1952. Originally, the CRLSA was not established to exploit the new urban electrical consumption markets, but to fulfil the needs of the expanding irrigated agriculture. In this article we will discuss the development of the company, particularly regarding its activities in the electrical energy business and explain the reasons for its establishment and its transformation into a leading company in this industry until the Spanish Civil War.