The Spanish government has struck an agreement with the domestic trade unions to financially support the reconversion of country's coal mining regions over the next ten years. €250m will be invested between 2018 and 2028. The deal covers Spain's privately-owned pits, 10 of which are slated to close by the end of 2018. Many of the sites were uneconomic and about 600 Spanish coal miners in Spain’s northern mining regions (Asturias, Aragón and Castilla y León) will benefit from social aid under the framework of the deal. Only mines that don't need public subsidies will remain open after 31 December 2018.
This move fits into the governmental energy transition strategy, which will enable the country to shift away from coal and accelerate the development of renewable energies. Earlier in October 2018, the government terminated the controversial solar tax on distributed solar generation (impuesto al sol) as well as administrative barriers imposed on self-consumption projects. Besides, it also announced the launch of the long-delayed national climate plan for November 2018.
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