The Port Authority of Avilés denied extending the concession for Asturiana de Fertilizantes without a prior dialogue process to explore alternatives that would guarantee the continuity of a viable company, its workers, and an industrial activity with more than two decades of history in the city.
Asturiana de Fertilizantes maintains its initial proposal of an extension of 7.26 years, linked to an investment plan of 4.6 million euros. At the same time, and with the aim of bridging positions, it has proposed an intermediate alternative of 4.39 years and an investment of 2.7 million euros. This intermediate proposal responds to the willingness to facilitate a meeting point that would guarantee the continuity of the company and its workers, preserve employment and continue investing in Avilés.
The appeal filed by Asturiana de Fertilizantes expands on this position and responds to the arguments used by the Port Authority to justify the denial. The documentation provided includes independent reports that support the technical, economic, and financial viability of the project.
Contents of the Reports
One of the reports presented, prepared by an internationally recognized independent firm, confirms that Asturiana de Fertilizantes has operational, commercial, and efficiency measures already identified to reinforce the economic sustainability of its industrial project in Avilés, as long as it has a sufficiently long horizon of continuity.
For Asturiana de Fertilizantes, what is at stake goes beyond the continuity of a single company. Its activity sustains around 60 direct and indirect jobs and a highly specialized workforce, comprised of professionals over 45 years old with family responsibilities. A possible closure would seriously hinder their re-entry into the Asturias job market and would mean the loss of stable industrial employment.
The activity of Asturiana de Fertilizantes also has a direct impact on the local industrial ecosystem. The company maintains a close relationship with Asturiana de Zinc (AZSA), from which it receives one of the raw materials necessary to manufacture fertilizers, and generates activity for companies such as MARPRIN, CASINTRA, Grupo MOTA, MONTRASA, PRASAT, and JOFRA, linked to logistics, industrial, and maintenance services. Collectively, this network represents around 30 jobs and reflects the company’s catalytic effect on Avilés’ industrial fabric.
The continuity of Asturiana de Fertilizantes also carries a strategic dimension. As a national fertilizer producer, it supplies the agricultural sector through local production and helps reduce dependence on foreign sources in a context of growing international uncertainty. Its activity aligns with the policies of the European Union and the Government of Spain aimed at strengthening the autonomy and competitiveness of the primary sector.
Asturiana de Fertilizantes insists that there remains an opportunity to reach a solution. The company maintains its willingness to dialogue and assures that it will continue working to preserve a viable industrial activity, essential for Avilés’ economic fabric and strategic for Spain’s agricultural sector.
