The Spanish steelmakers association UNESID and trade unions CCOO and UGT have sent a letter to Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez, asking for measures to be adopted in relation to electricity prices that would help them compete with their competitors. UNESID said it also believes that the measures are required for a transition to carbon neutral steel production by 2050.
“It is absolutely necessary to end the differences between the price of electricity paid in Spain and in reference countries of the European Union, in particular France and Germany. A country without steel inevitably becomes a country without industry,” said Bernardo Valezquez, president of UNESID, adding, “The level of performance of our industry has had to be reduced, considering the stoppages and disruptions in manufacturing in many sectors that consume steel.”
Spain’s steel production in April and May this year was down 45 percent compared to the same months in 2019. Although there was a certain resumption in May, it will take long to return to the normal levels, as SteelOrbis understands. In 2019, Spain produced 13.6 million metric tons of crude steel.
