The energy transition, the commitment to the Circular Economy, the promotion of the construction of infrastructures and the need to strengthen the competitiveness of companies and the economy as a whole were the central issues of the telematic working session of last January 14 between the General Director of Energy, Industrial Safety and Mining Safety, Manel Torrent Aixa, and a sector delegation headed by the president of Ciment Català, Salvador Fernández Capo. Both parties agreed that, in a context marked by the health crisis and its social and economic effects, and with the management perspective of European Next Generation funds for digitization and environmental protection, the adoption of measures that favor Carbon neutrality and the development of equipment for the country’s logistics, energy, mobility and social services needs become the most appropriate strategy to face the immediate future and relaunch the activity.

The representatives of the Catalan cement industry explained the difficult situation of the market, which, largely burdened by the initial effects of Covid-19, has accumulated a 10% drop in cement consumption in the last year. To face the complications that this generates, and also to gain competitiveness in the face of foreign markets, the sector and the Generalitat consider that it will be very useful to promote measures that improve both the conditions of the Offer – such as making available to the factories more quantity and variety of waste to be used safely as alternative fuels – such as Demand – promoting the construction of public works that allow better benefits and services to citizens and the business fabric. Representatives of the cement industry asked that the fees for dumping waste be increased and not apply more taxes to the sector.

As those responsible for designing energy policies to be applied in Catalonia and preparing regulatory initiatives in the field of energy, industrial safety and mining safety, within their areas of competence, the Director General was receptive to these demands, highlighting the importance it has for the Catalan economy the maintenance and growth of a traditionally exporting industry such as cement.