The Government will increase the maximum ceiling for aid to companies in the field of aid to industries that make intensive use of natural gas, 400 thousand euros to 500 thousand euros. The news is advanced by Público, this Tuesday, which cites an official source from the Ministry of Economy and the Sea, directed by António Costa Silva.
The increase in support paid by companies will be included in the package of measures to deal with inflation, which will be presented in September by the Government. This non-reimbursable aid is intended to compensate companies for exceptional increases in the price of natural gas. This includes, for example, ceramic, metallurgical, glass or textile companies, which consume a lot of gas.
According to Público, Costa Silva will still have to negotiate the increase in the ceiling with the European Commission, but Brussels has already given signs of giving its approval to the measure. The ministry also wants to increase the 30% levy that covers the difference between gas supply costs in 2021 and 2022, due to price increases caused by the war in Ukraine.
The support was announced in April and was only given the green light by the European Commission’s competition services in June, as the Observer wrote. In this first phase, more than 180 gas-intensive companies applied and more than 150 companies received support. 11 million euros of the 160 million announced were paid. To the newspaper Eco, the Government has already said that it expects more candidates in the next phase.
Apoiar program for gas-intensive industries with 183 applications in the 1st tender
The Ministry of Economy also informs Público that the Government wants to advance in the implementation of the strategies of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) regarding the decarbonization of the industry. In October it intends to sign the first contracts with the chosen candidates.
Source: Observadora
