Asturias grants twenty million in aid to the industrial circular economy

The Regional Ministry of Mobility, Environment and Emergency Management of the Principality of Asturias has resolved the call for grants to boost the circular economy through projects promoted by large companies, granting a total of €20,000,000 100% co-financed by Spain’s Just Transition Fund (JTF) 2021-2027. The resolution, signed on August 24, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias, No. 171, of September 3, 2026 (reference 2026-07173).

The grants, processed under file AYUD/2025/38113, fall under priority P1B. Asturias STEP (STEP 2) of the Just Transition Fund Program and finance productive investments in clean and resource-efficient technologies. The call was approved by resolution on November 24, 2025 (BOPA No. 230, of November 28) and was modified on April 29, 2026 (BOPA No. 90, of May 13) to increase the initial credit from 8 to 20 million euros due to the excess of applications.

Beneficiaries and projects

The resolution grants aid to four entities, totaling a total investment of €51,287,452.75 and mobilizing €31,287,452.75 in accompanying private investment:

• Arcelor Mittal España, S. A. (Gijón): comprehensive management and reuse of rainwater and regenerated water at the steel plant, with €15,139,076.26 in aid on an investment of €39,857,000.
• Refractaria, S. A. U. (Siero): incorporation of refractory recycling technologies, with €2,679,189.29.
• Hierros y Carbones, S. A. (HICASA) (Llanera): improvement of the circularity of the rail cutting process, with €1,406,509.55.
• H2 Aboño, S. A. (Gijón): recovery of wastewater for renewable hydrogen, with €775,224.90.

Denied applications

Four other applications were denied because the maximum credit amount was exceeded, applying the prioritization provided for in the call:

• Arcelor Mittal España, S. A. (sustainable regeneration of hydrochloric acid at the Avilés plant).
• Eumedica Pharmaceuticals Industries, S. L. (resource efficiency in the manufacture of pharmaceutical active ingredients).
• Performance Specialty Products Asturias, S. L. (regenerated water utilization project).
• Celulosas de Asturias, S. A. (increase in water efficiency in paper pulp production).

Conditions and advance payment

Projects must be executed within a period of 24 months from the notification of the final resolution, and beneficiaries are obliged to maintain employment and investment for a minimum of five years, without relocating the activity outside the aid zone. The resolution also authorizes the advance payment of 40% of the grant to Arcelor Mittal España, S. A., in the amount of €6,055,630.50, subject to the establishment of a guarantee of €7,810,270.18.

The grants constitute State aid (file SA.120807) compatible with the internal market under Regulation (EU) No 651/2014, and are financed from budget allocation 1806.443D.773.069 of the General Budgets of the Principality, with a multi-annual distribution of 8 million in 2026, 3 million in 2027, and 9 million in 2028.

The resolution, which exhausts administrative remedies, represents a significant boost for the decarbonization and circularity of Asturian industry by channeling European funds toward projects that reduce the consumption of virgin raw materials and strengthen the strategic autonomy of key sectors such as steel, chemical, and pharmaceutical, with a direct impact on the maintenance of regional employment.

Source: Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias, no. 171, of September 3, 2026, I. Principality of Asturias, Other Provisions (official reference: 2026-07173).