Mining in the late 1950s Asturias involved 110 coal companies and more than 50,000 workers, a milestone that will likely never be repeated. That era marked a turning point when a coal boom reshaped everyday life in the Principality, influencing communication, urban planning, population patterns, and health. Since then, the region has undergone a sequence of changes, gradually settling into a new normal with smaller, less competitive farms. Presently, only San Nicolas hosts any significant mining activity on Wednesdays. The remaining operational power generation plants are the EDP facilities at Aboño and Soto de Ribera.
Meanwhile, global coal consumption remains at historically high levels, with a record 8.3 billion tons consumed last year and forecasts suggesting even higher totals in 2023. Nations are seeking alternatives to gas, whose prices surged after the Ukrainian conflict. Asturias continues to play a pivotal role in the coal trade, though its function has shifted from a traditional energy source to a strategic hub for storage and transit. The region now handles more maritime traffic, especially after the European Union sanctioned Russian exports as a punitive measure for the conflict. Gas re-shipments have risen as well since the opening of the regasification plant at El Musel intensified supply options.
Coal re-exports from Asturias grew by 500 percent in the first half of the year, rising from 72.1 million euros to 431.5 million euros when compared to the same period in 2022. Demand from regions such as South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, India, and Indonesia supported this rebound. Cargoes are stored in the ports of Asturias and redirected to ships heading in multiple directions, sustaining a dynamic international trade flow.
Asturias remains the dominant hub in Spain for coal trade, accounting for a substantial share of exports in the first half of the year. The country overall tallied 564 million euros in coal trade, with El Musel singled out for its crucial role. The port has surpassed five million tons of transit so far this year, a figure approaching levels achieved in the past when it supplied power to several thermal plants across Asturias, León, and Palencia. Today, unloading and re-exports are largely led by major industry players Glencore and the Vitol Group, both having established a strong presence at El Musel last year.
In addition, the regasification facility managed by Enagás in the Gijón area is increasingly used for gas re-exports and storage, contributing to a nationwide shift in energy logistics. From January to June, Spain saw reshipments rise by nearly 50 percent to close to 45,000 gigawatt hours, with indicators pointing toward a record year in 2022.
Experts emphasize the need to separate wartime energy demand from longer-term structural changes. The Asturian and broader Spanish energy sectors must pursue decarbonisation and expand renewable energy adoption. Carlos García, General Manager of Faen, notes that the uptick in coal storage and re-exports in Asturias appears to be temporary. He suggests there could be a future role for Asturias as a regional energy center, extending beyond gas and coal to green hydrogen or ammonia, while recognizing the current constraints and transitional nature of these shifts.
Ambitious green initiatives are on the horizon for the region. A cohort of 125 startups is aligned with the Just Transition Fund, totaling 263 million euros in support. Heavyweights like ArcelorMittal and EDP are pursuing decarbonisation in their operations, though the scale and timeline of these investments are substantial. The International Energy Agency has cautioned that green hydrogen on an industrial scale remains in its infancy and requires clearer regulatory pathways. Major Spanish power companies also view the government’s forecast of 81 percent electricity from renewables by 2030 with skepticism, implying that the path to a low-carbon energy system will be gradual and complex. This broader context underscores that Asturias sits at a crossroads of traditional energy heritage and a transition toward cleaner technologies, with practical implications for local communities, industry players, and regional planning.