The government spokesperson for the autonomous community of Asturias, Guillermo Peláez, laid bare the conflict between the government and the judiciary in Oviedo reaffirmed the decision of the Principado to buy the plant owned by Duro Felguera in Barros to enable the technology group Indra to establish itself there. The transaction would benefit Asturias and would be formalised “very soon”, Peláez said. He said specific contract details would be provided only after the agreements had been finalised, citing confidentiality obligations.
The government says the planned purchase is intended to break a negotiating deadlock. Indra had expressed interest in the Barros industrial units but could not agree on a purchase price with Duro Felguera and was therefore considering alternatives. The Principado’s entry as buyer is intended to secure the site in Langreo . The head of the regional government, Adrián Barbón had already reaffirmed in the preceding days the political will to attract the industrial investment to Asturias.
Peláez described the move as sound industrial policy that could strengthen capacity and employment in the Langreo area. He gave no specific commitments on scale, timing or employment impact. On Thursday, the purchase price and the future contractual arrangements between the Principado and Indra also remained unclear, including whether these would take the form of a lease or conditions of use. According to government sources, these details are to be published once the transaction is complete.
Opposition parties in the Asturian parliament are meanwhile calling for transparency in the valuation of the property, the use of public funds and any guarantees for local employment and supply chains. They point to the Principado’s responsibility to ensure market prices are respected and to clearly identify risks to the regional budget. Representatives of Duro Felguera have welcomed the agreement to sell as the result of talks and negotiations.
The assessment is twofold: on the one hand, a swift conclusion could give Indra planning certainty and strengthen the industrial corridor of the cuenca del Nalón . On the other hand, fiscal and political questions remain open as long as neither the purchase price nor the companies’ obligations are made public. The government emphasises the strategic benefits; firm figures and legally binding commitments are still outstanding. Peláez’s comments are the clearest indication so far that the transaction is intended to be finalised soon. Whether, and in what form, Indra subsequently manufactures in Barros will depend on the final agreements.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).