Tekax, Yucatan — Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has granted environmental impact approval for the Kiin photovoltaic park, a project that will install 91,756 solar panels in the municipality of Tekax, but has made the authorization conditional on strict environmental measures and an indigenous consultation before any construction begins.
The project, promoted by Energías Renovables Kiin, will have an installed capacity of 50 megawatts and occupy 159.09 hectares.
According to the federal resolution, the authorization is subject to 16 terms and six environmental conditions because the site lies within the Sierra de Ticul-Punto Put Important Bird Conservation Area (AICA), a zone of high ecological value.
Semarnat set a maximum 24-month construction period and a 50-year operational lifespan, provided the company meets all obligations.
However, the resolution states that no work may begin until the Secretariat of Energy (Sener) completes the required indigenous consultation process, an indispensable prerequisite for the project’s development.
Among other requirements, the company must hire an independent environmental supervisor to verify compliance with mitigation and protection measures throughout the project’s phases. It must also obtain a compliance bond to guarantee the execution of committed environmental actions.
The resolution includes specific measures to protect regional wildlife, including the ocelot and the ocellated turkey, both considered important for biodiversity conservation.
The federal agency warned that failure to meet deadlines, terms, or conditions could result in revocation of the environmental impact authorization, which would halt construction or operation of the solar park in Tekax.
