Laguarres

Laguarres is a small village in the Ribagorza region. From Graus take the main road to Bonanza (A-1605). After about 9.5 km you'll find a solar power station at the right hand side of the road. At the left hand side there is a small switch house with two high voltage lines arriving. There is place to park your vehicle next to this construction. Walk along the field toward the river until your reach the ridge. You should see the former power station in the depth. Nowadays it is an empty carcass.

Pictures: 31.xii.2018

(1) The power station in the bed of the río Isábena

The construction housed the power station of the Sociedad Eléctrica Ribagorzana. In yearbooks of the early 20th century listing Spanish Public Limited Companies we have found two entries for this company.

It looks like Eléctrica Ribagorzana was founded two times under the same reference 6306. A first time in 1909 with address in Laguarres and two years later again but then based in Benabarre and with a named manager Constantino de Cambra.

yearbook 1919 ‡
N° 6306 – Electra Ribagorzana Domicilio.—Laguarres (Huesca). Fecha de constitución.—En 4 de febrero de 1909. Capital.—25.000 pesetas. Objeto.—Energía eléctrica para molino harinero.

yearbook 1921 ¥
N° 6306 – Electra Ribagorzana Domicilio.—Benabarre (Huesca). Fecha de constitución.—12 marzo de 1911. Capital.—25.000 pesetas. Objeto.—Energía eléctrica para molino harinero. Gerente.—Don Constantino de Cambra.

(2) The power station with several supports for insulator banks.

(3) The front wall of the power station.

It is the, unfortunately incomplete, archive of this first manager Constantino de Cambra that was used to summarize the history of the company in the article given at the foot of this page †. I will restrict myself to only some elements of the article.

⦿ During the first years the canal was built, the grid established (lines towards Benabarre, Laguarres, Lascuarre, and Pociello), and a new flour mill, powered exclusively by electricity, built to replace the old water mill. The new canal would carry 500 litres [per second] with a fall of 12 m, presumably more than enough for the intended use.

⦿ In the 1920s repairs to the waterworks and the equipment were necessary. The grid was extended to Tolva (from Benabarre), Benavente, Bellestar, El Soler, and Torrelabad.

⦿ Disaster struck in 1930. The canal was destroyed by landslides on the left bank of the Isábena river. Production of electricity became impossible and from October 1930 the company's activity was limited to the installation and maintenance of the infrastructure and the sale of electricity purchased elsewhere.

⦿ In 1932 Eléctrica Ribagorzana and Eléctrica de la Litera together formed a new company Electricas Reunidas de Ribagorza y la Litera. The number of villages serviced was raised again.

The expansion was interrupted by the start of the civil war in 1936. Constantino de Cambra was shot and Electricas Reunidas was seized.

† Gema de Cambra Florensa — 2017? — Noticia de una compañia de producción y distribución hidroeléctrica en Benabarre (Huesca). Electra Ribagorzana S.A. (1911-1942). 12 pp.
Consulted on line at https://www.academia.edu/19584693 (latest check 26.xii.2023)

‡ José García Ceballos — 1919 — Anuario Garciceballos – Información de Sociedades Anónimas 1919-1920. Madrid 1921 pp.

¥ José García Ceballos — 1921 — Anuario Garciceballos – Información de Sociedades Anónimas 1921-1922. Madrid 1923 pp.