It seemed like something that would take years if an already closed case or a window of hope was reopened. However, the prospect of Stellantis developing a gigabataria factory in the Iberian Peninsula is very real today. As reported yesterday by FARO from the Prensa Ibérica group, the group’s CEO, Carlos Tavares, announced during his visit to the Mangualde factory on Friday that the project is in the working phase and a decision will be made before the end of the year. . In the presence of the country’s Prime Minister, António Costa, HE model One of the multinationals has given the order to start a competition between Portugal and Spain.is looking for the best offer, taking into account factors such as availability of renewable energy, costs and above all support. to the other side rail They have already expressed interest in accepting Tavares’ demands and will put their labor and industrial models on the table. low costenergy green and a broad framework of help. Spanish assets: the dedicated line to these plants, announced in the framework of the second call for Perte VEC (Electric and Connected Vehicle), proximity and development of the group’s main factories on the peninsula (such as Vigo and Zaragoza) can be renewed
Although there are many projects on the table, There is currently an approved and under development factory of this type in every country.. In the case of Portugal, China CALB (short for China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government to create a memorandum of understanding. giant factory On Portuguese territory, Sines is the chosen site where he applied for an environmental permit for its construction. On the Spanish side, the only project that received support in the first call for the Perte VEC was Volkswagen’s project with its subsidiary PowerCo, which will be established in Sagunt, Valencia.
Options on both sides of the border might appeal to Stellantis. Starting with the recent location of a scarce resource, according to Tavares himself, and critical for the manufacture of batteries such as lithium, which are found both in the north of Portugal and in the province of Extremadura. There are already studies in both areas to use these deposits and even find more.
The two countries are also major producers of renewable energy, something that Tavares has already highlighted in his speech as “a very important factor when choosing a factory,” and they are fully developing their first offshore parks. Of course, the balance here should be towards Spain: According to Red Eléctrica’s data, 11,230 GW/h (gigawatt hours) were exported to the neighboring country last year, while 2,000 GW/h was imported.
The big difference is almost certainly in the costs. As is already well known, Portugal has a large industrial estate, which in some cases is almost nil. given, for example at a price that has nothing to do with what exists in Galicia. To this is added, first of all, the price of labor. The minimum wage here is 760 euros, almost 300 euros less than in Spain. For example, last year the average salary in Pontevedra was 1,733 euros; 862 euros in the case of the five Portuguese municipalities it borders. Tavares already said this at Mangualde: Portugal has “more competitive labor costs”.
It is not clear what Portugal can offer in terms of assistance. Spain made the second call for Perte VEC, which will have a line for battery factories. But there are two problems here: on the one hand, the re-implementation of China’s Extremadura proposal with Acciona, and the money coming in for everyone as India’s Tata Motors (for Zaragoza) is expected to do just that. ) and Slovak Inobat (Valladolid); On the other hand, the times of Stellantis and the Government would not coincide again.Tavares is expected to say they will make a decision at the end of the year, and Perte is expected to be called much sooner.
As far as possible and as far as this environment knowsThe announcement of the group’s CEO in Mangualde surprised even executives in Spain.
Costa asks Portuguese employers to make ‘efforts’ to raise wages
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa urged businessmen in the country to “make an effort” to raise workers’ wages because raising wages “grows the economy.” “The economy needs to grow for wages to rise, but wage growth also makes the economy grow,” Costa said at a conference of Socialist Trade Union Tendency in Lisbon this weekend, which he attended as secretary general of the Portuguese Socialist Party. Party (PS).
According to local media reports, “Just as the government can’t stop counting the increase in civil servants, neither can companies stop counting, but everyone must make a concerted effort to increase revenue.”
However you like, The inflationary crisis and the interruption of income growth are the “biggest threat” to the growth of the economy..
After some employers “complained” about the shortage of workers, Costa, who has been in power for a year with an absolute majority, argued that they should “re-arrange” their working hours and bet on “more reconciliation between personal and family life”. “more compatible programs”.
Labor conflict in Portugal skyrocketed last year It was fueled by the rise in inflation, which was 7.4% in March, according to the estimates of the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics.
Costa argued that “contradiction exists” in a “plural democracy” regarding the protests called in different cities of the country this Saturday due to high housing prices.