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Before the start of the meeting, the board members posed for a photograph, with the CEO of Endesa Noroeste, Miguel Temboury; the director general for Energy of Castilla y León, Alfonso Arroyo; and the director of the Fair Transition Institute, Laura Martín, in the foreground, together with the deputy government representative in the province of León, Faustino Sánchez.
- Eight binding offers to revive the El Bierzo region’s economy have been submitted
- Endesa is offering 330 hectares of prime land to entrepreneurs for business initiatives
Today, the board that will evaluate the business projects submitted for the international tender organised by Endesa to make use of the land occupied by the Compostilla Power Plant was officially created. This body will have the job of assessing the eight binding offers that reached the second stage of this process, which is intended to promote the development of the El Bierzo region as part of the Futur-e action plan, following the closure of the coal-fired power station.
Launched at the initiative of Endesa, the plan includes, among other actions, the development of renewable megawatts (MW) in the area, with an estimated investment of hundreds of millions of euros, the promotion of training in renewables in the area, the decommissioning of power plants and sectors with strong potential for growth, with the aim of improving employability, in addition to the organisation of a tender to search for projects. After the second stage ended on 30 June, today saw the setting up of the evaluation board at Endesa’s offices in Montearenas. The board consists of the director of the Instituto para la Transición Justa (Fair Transition Institute), Laura Martín; the director general for Energy of Castilla y León, Alfonso Arroyo; the mayor of Ponferrada, Olegario Ramón; the mayor of Cubillos del Sil, Antonio Cuellas; University of León professors Nuria González Rabanal and Victoriano Marcelo; the CEO of Endesa Noroeste, Miguel Temboury; and Futur-e Plan manager, Juan Álvarez Avello.
Endesa's Compostilla facility, which shut down at the end of June, is ideal for other business projects and this has led the company to undertake a search for alternatives that are sustainable from a social, economic and environmental perspective. The initiative arises out of Endesa's commitment to mitigate the consequences of the energy transition that Europe is carrying out, with the aim of achieving the decarbonisation of the economy by following the criteria of social, economic and environmental sustainability. It is about creating value that is shared with all local agents, both as an example of a circular economy and to bring about a fair transition to new business models.
Endesa will favour the implementation of these projects in El Bierzo on the site in the municipalities of Cubillos del Sil and Ponferrada currently occupied by the coal-fired power plant . The site measures 330 hectares, of which 80 are earmarked for industrial development, making them perfect for new enterprises as they already have electricity, gas and water supplies. It will also be possible to take advantage of existing industrial premises, industrial equipment and other infrastructure previously used to generate electricity. The developers will also have access to a wide range of public aid.
The eight binding proposals were submitted by local and national companies operating in sectors linked to agriculture, manufacturing and services, all firmly committed to innovation and the circular economy. The projects make the most of the unique conditions offered by the El Bierzo region and open up a range of possibilities for job creation and the revitalization of its economy.
The board set up today will need to evaluate the social aspects and sustainability of the eight projects so as to ensure not only their fit with the real needs of El Bierzo but also their business viability and their ability to create employment. The process will culminate in the selection of the best projects and the signing of agreements with the developers. This stage will end in the fourth quarter of the year, when the entrepreneurs will be able to file the paperwork needed to implement their plans.
Endesa initially received a total of 32 proposals in response to its international tender for business projects that would generate both employment and wealth in El Bierzo. Following an information and evaluation period, which had to be modified because of the coronavirus pandemic, the period for the submission of binding offers ended on 30 June.