The significant rise in construction costs, driven by the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, has led to 43 public works in the province of Córdoba being declared deserted in 2026. These stalled projects amount to 10.8 million euros and affect various administrations, including the Junta de Andalucía, the Provincial Council, and local town halls.
At the Andalusian level, the situation is even more alarming, with 300 interventions without an awarded contractor, nearly double the previous year, and a value of 116 million euros. The Circle of Andalusian Construction, Consulting, and Public Works Companies (Ceacop) warns that without an increase in bidding budgets and price revision mechanisms, these initiatives will not be viable in the market.
Among the blocked projects in Córdoba, two stand out from Emproacsa (Provincial Council) for the sectorization of supply networks in the North (1,458,942.28 euros) and South (1,230,172.49 euros) zones. Following this is a project by the Junta de Andalucía's Ministry of Culture and Sport for the adaptation of the itinerary towards the Salón Rico in Medina Azahara (977,624.90 euros).
Other projects left without an award include the construction of a municipal library and multipurpose rooms in Villa del Río (928,154.47 euros), the Sala de las Artes in Parque Fidiana (619,588.55 euros), the execution of four subsidized rental housing units (VPO) (583,462.54 euros), and the paving of streets in Pozoblanco (504,310.84 euros).
Arturo Coloma, Secretary General of Ceacop, points out that the surge in raw material costs for bitumen (up to 50%), corrugated steel, and concrete (over 15%), along with a nearly 47% increase in energy prices, is forcing construction companies to slow down execution. More than 50% of awarded works are experiencing significant delays.
Ceacop urges the central government to approve a royal decree for price revision and its incorporation into the Public Sector Contracts Law. They argue that the lack of mechanisms to adapt contracts to extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances will lead to project paralysis, loss of public investment, and severe economic problems for the sector.
