The Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Junta de Andalucía, Jorge Paradela, has presented to mayors, companies, and representatives of associations, entities, and unions the 15.2 million euros in aid from the Just Transition Fund to «support new opportunities for sustainable industrial development» in the Cordoba region of Valle del Guadiato that will benefit the 11 municipalities that make it up: Belmez, Espiel, Fuente Obejuna, La Granjuela, Los Blázquez, Obejo, Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo, Valsequillo, Villaharta, Villanueva del Rey, and Villaviciosa de Córdoba.
At an event held in the municipality of Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo, accompanied by the mayoress María Victoria Paerna, the President of the Provincial Council of Córdoba, Salvador Fuentes, the Government Delegate of the Junta in the province, Adolfo Molina, and the Delegate of the Ministry in Córdoba, Agustín López, the Minister emphasized that «these grants will help to promote a decarbonized industry that brings new economic opportunities to this region and to anchor population to the area.»
With this purpose, the incentives will support two types of actions. On one hand, the implementation of projects for sustainable development, renewable energies, and circular economy linked to the production of clean fuels or new energy vectors, the use of natural resources, and the generation of electric or thermal energy from biomass. On the other hand, the grants will support the implementation of the infrastructures necessary to sustain this sustainable development, such as the installation of smart electric energy systems, and the necessary facilities for alternative fuels to fossil fuels and the regeneration of abandoned spaces.
Moment of Minister Jorge Paradela’s speech at the presentation of aid for Valle del Guadiato.
Jorge Paradela has announced that the publication of the incentive call in BOJA is scheduled for next March, and the opening of the application window at the end of that same month. The aids are primarily aimed at micro-enterprises, small or medium enterprises, as well as large companies, although local territorial entities or local public sector entities may also submit projects, he explained.
To take advantage of all these opportunities, the Minister emphasized that «it is essential for the central government to provide the province of Córdoba, and in particular, this region, with the necessary investments in the upcoming planning of the electric transport network for 2025-2030.»
«The northern part of the province of Córdoba, along with other areas in the province of Jaén and northern Granada, is the most affected area in Andalucía by the lack of electric transport networks,» he pointed out. «Andalusia has a historical deficiency, with an electric transport network density 40% below the average values on the peninsula, which reduces industrial opportunities,» he recalled.
Paradela highlighted that among the main investment demands that Andalusia has presented to the central government, totaling 544 million euros, are the connection between Valle del Guadiato and the Los Pedroches region with the southeast of Extremadura (Lancha-Peñarroya-Maguilla), as well as developments in Los Pedroches and Alto Guadiato, and a new interconnection axis with Seville.
Industry Minister addressing the media at the presentation of the incentives from the Just Transition Fund for the Cordoba region.
The Industry Minister assessed that the infrastructure developments proposed by the Junta to the central government for Córdoba amount to 157 million euros and represent an opportunity for the boost of a territory with an endemic shortage of electrical infrastructures, where one of the three existing just transition nodes in Andalusia is located (Puente Nuevo power plant). «This would mainly allow for new opportunities for industrial growth in the northern area of Córdoba, but also the consolidation of economic development in the southern part of the province, in the surroundings of Lucena and Guadajoz,» Paradela highlighted.
On the other hand, Deputy Minister Cristóbal Sánchez, accompanied by the Secretary General of Industry and Mines, José Javier Alonso, explained the details to apply for these incentives. Thus, he specified that the regulatory order establishes that the granting of aids will take into account the type of project, the volume of direct employment generated, the investment figures and the commitment to maintaining employment, the execution deadlines, business collaboration and collaboration with knowledge agents, the associated environmental benefits it provides, or the expected impact on the region and the province.
This call for the Just Transition Fund adds to the first package of aids of 15.4 million euros approved by the Andalusian government to boost advanced logistics industry in Córdoba. They will be joined by others for projects related to the industrial refrigeration and air conditioning sector, an area where Lucena is a national leader. With all this, the industrial development of the province will receive support of 35.1 million euros.
The Just Transition Fund is a European fund that includes 169 million euros to promote sustainable industrial opportunities in the provinces of Almería, Cádiz, and Córdoba to address the loss of industrial fabric caused by the closure of coal thermal power plants in these territories.
