Work starts on new €7 million migrant reception centre in the south of Tenerife
Construction has begun on a new Temporary Migrant Reception Centre (CATE) in the south of Tenerife at the Port of Granadilla. After months of planning, work is now under way on land next to the power station and desalination plant.
The project is designed to provide a dedicated facility to manage migrants arriving in the Canary Islands by small boats.
What is being built?
The centre will cover 4,070 square metres and is planned to accommodate up to 348 people. It will consist of three modular accommodation blocks:
- Two larger units with a total of 256 beds
- One smaller unit with 92 beds
The project is expected to take around 10 months to complete. If work stays on schedule, the centre should be ready before the end of 2026.
Cost and facilities
The total cost has risen to €7.42 million, more than double early estimates, however, the higher budget is intended to ensure the centre is fully equipped from day one.
As well as accommodation, the site will include:
- Water, electricity and drainage systems
- Fire safety installations
- CCTV, communications systems and controlled access
- Parking for official vehicles and storage areas
There will be a single entrance and exit to help manage security and emergency access.
Migrant arrivals down, debate continues
The start of construction follows new figures from the Ministry of the Interior, which report a sharp drop in arrivals. In 2025, 17,788 people arrived in the Canary Islands by sea, compared with 46,843 in 2024, a reported fall of 62%.
However, the figures are disputed by opposition parties, including VOX leader Santiago Abascal, who has questioned the reliability of the data. Police unions such as JUCIL have also warned that frontline services remain under pressure.
Despite the debate, the new centre is intended to improve organisation, security and humanitarian response in the south of Tenerife.
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