Direct grant of 50,000 euros to the Minería y Vida Foundation

The Council of Ministers has approved the direct grant of a subsidy of 50,000 euros to the Mining and Life Foundation (Fundación Minería y Vida) to promote sustainability in the mineral raw materials industry. The measure is articulated through Royal Decree 830/2026, of October 14, published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) no. 257, of October 16, 2026, section I, page 138419 (official reference BOE-A-2026-21526). The regulation enters into force on the day following its publication.

A direct aid supported by public interest

The royal decree, promoted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, regulates the direct granting of the subsidy under article 22.2.c) of Law 38/2003, of November 17, General Law on Subsidies, which allows for the granting of aid exceptionally when reasons of public, social, or economic interest exist that hinder a public call for applications. The text is signed by Minister Sara Aagesen Muñoz and was approved by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on October 13, 2026.

The aid finances action A16.M23 of the I Action Plan for the sustainable management of mineral raw materials 2026-2030, approved on March 10, 2026, which develops the Roadmap approved on August 30, 2022. That plan proposes 34 actions, of which eight—including this one—were declared as “high priority.” The initiative is also aligned with article 36.8 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, of April 11, 2024, on a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.

The Government justifies the choice of the beneficiary entity on the grounds that it is the only state-wide non-profit foundation composed of trustees representative of the entire sector. Its trustees include:

• Business associations and federations of the sector with national scope.
• Professional associations, such as the Official College of Geologists, the General Council of Official Colleges of Technical Engineers and Degrees in Mining and Energy, and the Higher Council of Mining Engineers.
• The most representative trade union organizations in the industry.
• Teaching and research institutions, as well as environmental organizations and foundations.

The funded actions

The Mining and Life Foundation, with CIF G06923007 and registered office at Plaza de las Cortes, 5, 7th floor, 28014 Madrid, must execute five blocks of work aimed at raising awareness about the relevance of mineral raw materials and promoting the sector’s best practices:

• Preparation of a sustainability report linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and a gender perspective.
• A voluntary practical guide with a methodology to guide companies in accordance with the SDGs.
• Support actions for a system of voluntary covenants and agreements on sustainability, governance, ethics, regulatory compliance, and transparency.
• A second voluntary practical guide focused on transparency and governance.
• Training and dissemination actions through in-person or virtual seminars.

The grant will be financed from budget allocation 23.09.423N.783 of the Ministry’s budget, corresponding to the 2026 extension of the General State Budgets in force in 2025. Payment will be made in advance of justification, and the foundation is exempt from providing a guarantee due to its status as a non-profit entity.

Deadlines, control, and repayments

The procedure is initiated ex officio upon the entry into force of the regulation. The beneficiary has a maximum period of fifteen days to submit their application electronically, and the Sub-directorate General for Mines of the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines will act as the instructing body. The award resolution must be issued within a period not exceeding six months.

The expenditure eligibility period spans from March 10, 2026, to March 31, 2027, and the simplified justification account must be submitted within three months following that date. Indirect costs may not exceed 15% of the justified direct costs, per diems and travel are limited to 3% of the subsidized amount—extendable to 7% with authorization—and the review of the justification account may not exceed 10% of the aid.

The text further details the regime for non-compliance: falsifying data or concealing conditions, total failure to achieve the objectives, or lack of justification entail the repayment of 100% of the amount received, while partial failure to achieve the objectives is penalized with a proportional percentage and a minimum of 40%. The entity must publicize the public nature of the funding using the Ministry’s institutional image.

The regulation is issued under Article 149.1, rules 23 and 25, of the Spanish Constitution, which grants the State exclusive competence over basic environmental legislation and over the mining and energy regime.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 257, of October 16, 2026, section I. General provisions, p. 138419 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-21526).