Ramiro González, General Deputy of Álava, and Mikel Jauregi, Minister for Industry of the Basque Government, visit Vidrala’s plant in Laudio

• Guided by Víctor Tolosa, Director of Vidrala's European Division, the institutional delegation toured the facilities to gain first-hand insight into the progress made in market adaptation, sustainability, energy efficiency, and productivity.
• A meeting was also held with the Group's Management to address key concepts such as the urgent need for energy conditions that enhance competitiveness and for institutional support for industrial investment, as a driving force in the face of a new industrial reality that demands assistance.

 

Vidrala’s plant in Laudio, which produces glass containers, has been the meeting point for institutional representatives from the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Álava, who came to learn in detail about the potential of the ambitious industrial renewal project that Vidrala is planning for its headquarters in the Aiala Valley. This comprehensive plan represents a strong commitment to developing industry in a more sustainable and profitable way, promoting an export-driven approach and reinforcing Vidrala’s dedication to the industrial and economic development of the region. The initiative is part of a far-reaching investment strategy set by the Vidrala Group, which will adopt a more selective approach and readjust production capacities across its five European plants in response to a more demanding market environment that requires improved competitive conditions.

Representing the Basque Government on the visit were Mikel Jauregi, Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability; Andoitz Korta, Deputy Minister for Industrial Promotion; and Irantzu Allende, Deputy Minister for Energy Transition. They were joined by Ramiro González, General Deputy of Álava, and Ander Larrinaga, Director of Economic Development. The entire delegation took part in a guided tour to observe the improvements implemented by Vidrala in areas such as market adaptation, sustainability, energy efficiency, and productivity.

Focus on Sustainable Competitiveness

In the second part of the visit, the delegation met with Raúl Gómez, CEO of Vidrala; Víctor Tolosa, Managing Director of Vidrala’s European Division; Elena Gárate, Director of Administration and Financial Control; Galo Álvarez, Chief of Sustainability and Corporate Development; and Joseba Fernández de Mendía, Chief of People. The meeting reviewed the strategic objectives of the investment plan and its contribution to local value creation. Key strategic issues for industry were addressed during the session, including the urgent need for access to energy under competitive conditions, the essential role of public support in strengthening the industrial fabric, and the firm investment commitment to transitioning towards low-carbon processes that are both more environmentally efficient and economically viable.

Raúl Gómez, CEO of Vidrala, emphasised: "We have taken on the challenge of positioning ourselves as the leading glass producer in terms of competitiveness, export capacity, market adaptation, and profitability. We manufacture glass – the ultimate sustainable material, infinitely recyclable, and the most inert and healthiest packaging for preserving food and beverages, avoiding the presence of microplastics. We have the people, the technological capability, the investment ambition, and the international scale in Europe, the UK and South America to position ourselves in a more demanding economic context, to attract major clients, and to satisfy consumers. But we need competitiveness – it is a non-negotiable requirement. Regional, social, and economic progress depends on building a competitive industry, and we cannot do it alone. In a turbulent context and with a clear threat to Basque industry, to make our industrial commitment and job guarantees a reality, we need investment and infrastructure support."

"Basque industry is energy-intensive and requires a public-private commitment to develop an energy policy aimed at strengthening business competitiveness, ensuring accessible and viable energy across all sources. The green transition must be built on a solid foundation of competitiveness in energy infrastructure. However, the development of renewable energy and the electrification of the high-power grid have clearly lagged behind our neighbouring competitors. Recent events, such as the war in Ukraine or the April blackout, highlight more than ever a clear message: the lack of access to competitive energy today will be the brake on tomorrow. We are grateful for the strong support of current institutions in developing policies which, we are convinced, will allow Basque industry to move ahead of our neighbouring competitors,” Gómez concluded.

Minister Mikel Jauregi acknowledged the Basque industry’s strong commitment to decarbonisation and the electrical requirements this entails for businesses: "As a country, we are clear about our goal: to reach net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, we must accelerate the pace of decarbonising our industry, while safeguarding competitiveness and employment. A decisive factor in this process is the electricity demand of industry in order to undertake decarbonisation processes. We have companies ready to make major commitments in this area, but they are unable to do so because there is no socket to plug into. Basque industry accounts for 53% of total electricity consumption, which is why we urgently need to increase the capacity and resilience of the electricity grid. We need an additional 6,000 megawatts of new capacity to meet the needs of our industry, and a clear and sustained investment to improve the grid. We’ve been working for months with the central government to ensure these investments can be realised. In the face of the energy bottleneck threatening our industry, failure to invest in additional capacity or to improve the grid could jeopardise the jobs of over 70,000 people in Euskadi."

Meanwhile, the General Deputy of Álava, Ramiro González, highlighted: "Vidrala is a clear example of a company deeply rooted in the territory of Álava, which has successfully adapted to changing times throughout its history. Today, it is a highly digitalised plant, pioneering the use of technologies such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Vision in its production processes to improve efficiency and competitiveness. It is a company committed to its environment, carrying the names of Araba and Aiala around the world and, thanks to the planned investments, Laudio will host a flagship plant that will demonstrate how the application of technology can contribute to the industrial decarbonisation of our entire region."