The Parliament of Galicia will approve the new Natural Resources Law next week, a measure aimed at reconciling the use of natural resources with the promotion of local industry, creating synergies between the energy and industrial sectors.

The Minister of Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, emphasized that this law seeks to “ensure that the benefits of natural resources go to our companies and industries, always guaranteeing respect for the territory and strengthening the synergy between energy and industry, which is fundamental for continued progress.”

In a global economic context marked by significant challenges, Lorenzana highlighted that Galicia has an “immense competitive advantage” and must develop a long-term strategy to harness its resources.

The new legislation advocates closing production cycles within the autonomous community, maximizing the local value of sectors such as wood, stone, and ceramics.

However, the onshore wind sector is facing a challenging period. Oriol Sarmiento, manager of CLUERGAL, explains that the expansion of wind energy has been stalled by legal roadblocks that have paralyzed over 100 projects in the past three years, allowing the addition of just 36 MW of new capacity.

In an interview with Energía Estratégica España, Sarmiento stated that this situation could extend for at least two more years, impacting the plans outlined in Galicia’s Energy Agenda for 2030, which aims to reach 7,700 MW of installed capacity.

The suspension of 47 projects by the Superior Court of Justice of Galicia (TSXG), combined with the provisional suspension of 40 other projects and legal challenges affecting more than 70 wind farms with favorable environmental impact declarations, is slowing the sector’s progress.

“This not only hinders decarbonization and energy supply for Galician industries but also affects employment and economic activity in the region,” warned Sarmiento.

Despite the challenges in onshore wind energy, Galicia has established a robust auxiliary industry in the offshore wind sector, particularly around the Navantia shipyard in Fene.

Although there are currently no operational offshore wind farms in the region, Sarmiento highlighted that the Galician industry has contributed to significant international projects, primarily in the North Sea.

Currently, around 3,000 people work in the wind energy sector in Galicia, and it is expected that this number could double or even triple over the next decade if development expectations are met.

Finally, Sarmiento also emphasized the need to continue investing in training and skills development to ensure a qualified workforce that will enable Galicia to lead the growth of the sector.