Basque Country's industry commits to achieving zero net emissions and will join the WEF Global Alliance at COP26 in Glasgow

• "Basque Net Zero Industrial Super Cluster" is an initiative to accelerate the reduction of emissions in the industrial sector, but also aims to make the Basque Country a pioneer in the decarbonisation of industry
• The Basque Country joins the programme being developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) at a global level to promote the transition of industrial clusters towards net zero emissions

The Basque Government, in collaboration with the two main energy companies in the Basque Country, Iberdrola and Petronor, and the support of the industrial clusters, today presented the "Basque Net Zero Industrial Super Cluster" at the BEC in Barakaldo. This industrial super cluster was created to "achieve the objectives of net zero emissions by 2050" and will be one of the initiatives to be launched next week in Glasgow, on 3 and 4 November, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021-COP26.

The presentation was chaired by the Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment, Arantxa Tapia, and was attended by representatives of Iberdrola, Petronor, the 16 Basque industrial clusters, as well as the directors of the Basque Government and the SPRI Group responsible for energy transition, technological and industrial development, Ana Camacho and Cristina Oyon.

This "Super Cluster" is a project to accelerate the reduction of emissions in the Industrial sector, but also seeks to make the Basque Country a pioneer in the decarbonisation of Industry, while promoting economic development through technology and innovation applied to the decarbonisation of the different sectors. With these objectives, the initiative will have a positive impact on the creation of skilled jobs in new technologies for the deployment of innovative solutions and will be key to improving the competitiveness of Basque industry.

In addition, the Basque Country is joining the programme being developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) at a global level to accelerate the reduction of emissions in the Industrial Sector and from this programme, reinforcing commitments and driving initiatives that lead to zero net emissions.

The "Basque Net Zero Industrial Super Cluster" aims to accelerate the processes and achieve this emissions reduction objective, and it will do so by focusing primarily on the decarbonisation of energy supply and energy efficiency in the Basque industrial sector. Also, it will drive to offer new opportunities for Basque companies, derived from the development of new technologies and innovative services.

The name "Super Cluster" has been chosen because it will integrate the 16 Industrial Clusters that are already operating in the Basque Country and because, among other things, it will facilitate the coordination and development of cooperative initiatives.

Phased launch of the "Basque Super Cluster"

The launch of the "Basque Net Zero Industrial Super Cluster" will be carried out progressively in different phases in which different industries and agents will be incorporated into the development of initiatives and projects.

In the first phase, which begins on 3 November with its launch in Glasgow, the Basque Government, Iberdrola, Petronor and the Basque clusters have decided to focus on five industries whose total emissions exceed 65% of the overall emissions of Basque Industry: Oil Refining, Iron and Steel, Foundry, Cement and Pulp and Paper.

In addition, this initiative will promote projects and actions in the four development areas defined by the World Economic Forum: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Electrification, Hydrogen and CO2 Capture.

In these areas, and especially during the initial launch phase, Iberdrola and Petronor, in coordination with the Cluster Associations of the prioritised industrial sectors, will lead the development of initiatives and projects focused on the integration of low-emission energy sources and leveraging investments and resources for this purpose.