The Generalitat and the multinational Kronospan signed an agreement this Thursday involving an investment of 150 million euros in a new line of OSB boards (wood shavings) in Tortosa and l'Aldea, which will mean the incorporation of 75 jobs. With this, the Austrian multinational already exceeds 600 million in investment and the creation of 250 jobs.
The new line was announced by the Ministers of Business, Roger Torrent, and Territory, Ester Capella, and the General Director of Kronospan, Javier Macicior. The new line will be located in the Catalunya Sud industrial estate, in the company's 25-hectare factory for the production of wood-derived boards.
According to Roger Torrent, "this new investment means a strategic boost for Terres de l'Ebre, it will translate into jobs and prosperity for the territory and will help to strengthen the productive system of Catalonia". Torrent highlighted the Government's support for the project because "it contributes to the objective of reindustrialising Catalonia with a sustainable industry" and "it will help to revitalize the local economic fabric and that of Terres de l'Ebre as a whole". Capella advanced that in order to boost the competitiveness of the area, a new urban master plan is being drafted "with the aim of reordering 675 hectares of economic and logistics activity, with future access to the rail network and the possibility of implementing an intermodal freight terminal. ”.
For his part, the CEO of Kronospan, Javier Macicior, announced the future creation of a wood cluster, for which they have acquired more than one million square meters. He also underlined the commitment to sustainability, since all the boards manufactured in Tortosa are made with recycled wood, a 10 MW photovoltaic installation is being completed and the feasibility of a small wind power generation park in the area is being analysed.
The multinational began building its first production plant in Tortosa in 2021 with an initial investment of 180 million euros, which it has been expanding ever since. With the new project announced this Thursday, Kronospan's total investment in Catalonia now exceeds 600 million euros and the creation of 250 direct jobs. According to the company, its activity in Baix Ebre will also mean the generation of 1,500 additional indirect jobs.
Headquartered in Austria, Kronospan has 50 production plants around the world and a workforce of more than 15,000 workers.
