ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE FABRICANTES DE MAGNESIA
MAGES
Nuestra misión es estar en el mercado y actuar en él para crear trabajo y prosperidad, y para contribuir al avance de la sociedad y la calidad de vida de la población en general.
ID: 030092221347-76
Lobbying Activity
Response to European Climate Law amendment
15 Sept 2025
Agradecemos poder contribuir a la consulta. Desde la perspectiva del sector de la magnesia, remitimos nuestra posición con dos recomendaciones clave para la ejecutabilidad del objetivo 2040: reconocimiento de remociones internas permanentes como derechos del RCDE-UE y simplificación administrativa como principio rector para agilizar permisos e inversiones (incluida CAUC y la infraestructura de CO).
Read full responseResponse to Legislative initiative on CO2 transportation infrastructure and markets
10 Sept 2025
MAGES appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions public consultation on the Legislative initiative on CO transportation infrastructure and markets. Our position paper outlines actionable steps for a coherent, cross-border CO transport and storage framework, and we look forward to working with the Commission on next-stage design and delivery.
Read full response8 Jul 2025
Attached is MAGES submission to the evaluation and impact assessment for the revision of the EU ETScovering maritime, aviation, stationary installations, and the Market Stability Reserve.
Read full response29 Jul 2024
En el archivo adjunto se pueden consultar los comentarios de la industria española de la magnesia a la modificación del Reglamento sobre seguimiento y notificación del RCDE UE del régimen de comercio de derechos de emisión (RCDE) que ha propuesto la Comisión Europea.
Read full responseResponse to Permanent storage of EU ETS emissions through carbon capture and utilisation
16 Jul 2024
MAGES, la Asociación española de fabricantes de magnesia, acoge con satisfacción el proceso para establecer las condiciones en las que el CO2 capturado puede considerarse unido químicamente de forma permanente en un producto, en particular el reconocimiento de la mineralización como un proceso robusto que incorpora el CO2 en un producto estable y apoya firmemente la necesidad de establecer unas condiciones coherentes con el marco de certificación de la Unión para las absorciones de carbono. La permanencia del almacenamiento de CO2 a través de la mineralización está bien documentada, pero el anexo que define los productos que cumplen los requisitos del apartado 3 ter del artículo 12 de la Directiva 2003/87/CE sólo incluye algunas aplicaciones de construcción bajo CCU permanente, lo que somete a productos como, por ejemplo, la hidromagnesita, la nesquehonita...también empleada en productos de construcción, como retardante de llama, a un nuevo gravamen a pesar de la capacidad del producto para almacenar CO2 de forma permanente. En el archivo adjunto se explica en detalle las propuestas de la industria de la magnesia para que este acto delegado sirva de impulso para el desarrollo de nuevos «modelos de negocio» que ayuden a descarbonatar a sectores con emisiones difíciles de reducir.
Read full responseResponse to Amendment of the free allocation rules in response to the ETS revision/Fit For 55
29 Dec 2023
MAGES, The Spanish magnesia industry, appreciates the possibility of participating in the public consultation on the European Commissions Draft Delegated Regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 as regards transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances. Please find attached MAGES contribution to the public consultation on the draft Free Allocation Rules
Read full responseResponse to Climate neutrality plan for ETS installations in response to the ETS revision / Fit for 55
1 Sept 2023
The Spanish magnesia industry (MAGES) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the content and format of the climate-neutrality plans, as proposed in the European Commissions draft regulation. For detailed information, see attached document.
Read full responseResponse to Amendment of the EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (MRR) in response to the ETS revision/Fit For 55
22 Aug 2023
The Spanish Magnesite Association (MAGES) welcomes the possibility to give its view on the Update of the rules for monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions Please refer to the attached document for MAGES comments to the articles of the draft implementing regulation. We believe the draft should be further aligned with Directive 2018/2001/EC and with implementing regulation 2022/996.
Read full responseResponse to Net Zero Industry Act
23 Jun 2023
The Net-Zero Industry Act is an important first step, which should be followed up with a broader prioritisation of competitiveness in European policymaking, to stimulate the investments required to transition the entire economy towards net zero. The Act's objective is welcomed. In particular: - A simpler and faster permit-granting processes are a basis to attract more investments in Europe in key technologies for a successful decarbonisation - The inclusion of Carbon Capture and Storage represents a positive signal of recognition of CCS as a key enabler of industrial decarbonisation. However, the current proposal lacks a market-based and value chain approach. It risks discouraging investments or result in upward costs instead of encouraging investments in net-zero technologies and improving the competitiveness of the EU. However, to guarantee the successful of the Act significant improvements will be required. The proposal is in many instances too modest to truly achieve the objective of accelerating the transformation to net-zero industry. And its limited scope risks to become a handicap for Europes net-zero transformation. Not only the scope of strategic and net-zero technologies must be sufficiently broad and remain flexible to reflect technological developments, but entire value chains of raw materials, processed materials, equipment, parts, components and intermediate products must be fully in scope as well. You can find proposals for amendments on the priorities of the Spanish magnesia sector related to the proposal in the attached file.
Read full responseResponse to European Critical Raw Materials Act
24 May 2023
The Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Magnesia (MAGES) welcomes the European Commission's initiative to address the overriding issue of securing the supply of Raw Materials necessary for a green and digital transition. We welcome the proposed Critical Raw Materials Regulation as excellent news, as it is a breakthrough, breaking an insurmountable legislative barrier for MPs and is in line with the fundamental principles of access to resources. Furthermore, we support the European Commission's intention to focus on critical and strategic raw materials. Europe's dependence on an increasingly entrenched and disruptive international supply chain of imports for most critical raw materials, combined with the exponential increase in demand for these raw materials for the double transition, are threatening the performance and integrity of industry in the European Union. Europe needs to do more at home, while diversifying its import flows. However, the European Commission's decision to devote the proposed Regulation only to critical and strategic raw materials ignores the essential role and need for all other MPs, which represent 99% of those needed for the above-mentioned objectives. The precarious position in which Europe currently finds itself is the result of an incomplete and not very holistic design of its industrial policy and a lack of attention to the need for PM. Filling the gaps in Europe's strategic supply chains requires a comprehensive PM policy. Therefore, MAGES strongly recommends adding "essential raw materials", as a complementary set of remaining Raw Materials, to the proposed existing categories (i.e. "strategic and critical raw materials"), without competing with these in the framework of benefits. Furthermore, additional measures should be included to help the supply of essential raw materials to be planned and rationalised in a similar way as for critical and strategic raw materials, through a framework including administrative streamlining measures, such as a one-stop shop or limiting the length of processing procedures to a maximum of 18 or 36 months, and other benefits adapted to their specific circumstances. The MAGES wishes to show its unconditional support for the document "PRIMIGEA COMMENTS ON PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR ENSURING A SECURE AND SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS AND AMENDING REGULATIONS", the content of which is attached hereto and which it subscribes to in its entirety.
Read full responseResponse to EU rules on industrial emissions - revision
23 Jun 2022
The Spanish magnesia association (MAGES) firmly supports the EU Green Deal’s objectives and stand ready to support its implementation. The high energy prices, the disrupted supply chains and high inflation pose existential difficulties to companies who have already been under pressure in the last years due to the COVID crisis. This dramatic situation calls for an EU policy framework which mitigates these short-term challenges while supporting the necessary industrial transformation required for the long-term the Green Deal’s objectives.
The proposed revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive departs from these imperatives. The new proposed requirements raise a number of implementation concerns which ultimately lead to legal uncertainties, prolong and complicate the permit procedures, and ultimately undermine the ongoing industrial transformation. MAGES believes that the IED and the BREFs are delivering environmental performance across Europe because their approach is flexible, focuses on continuous improvements and addresses local environmental issues holistically. This falls perfectly in line with the outcome of the IED evaluation where it was recognized that the overall structure of the IED appears to function well and there was significant EU added value from the Directive.
As MAGES we are proposing some amendments focus on three fundamental aspects for the sector: (for more details please see the attached file):
- Scope:
With its proposal to extend the European directive on industrial emissions, the EU Commission is endangering industrial production in Europe. Companies need permits for their industrial plants in order to produce and remain competitive. The Commission's proposal jeopardises the ability of industrial plants in Spain and Europe to obtain permits. The resulting relocation of production isknown to have a disproportionate impact on the environment and climate due to lower standards elsewhere and additional transport routes.
- Emission limit values:
We are opposed to emission limit values being set in accordance with the lower limit of the BAT-AEL range (Article 15.3). The levels of environmental performance associated with BAT are expressed in ranges of values, rather than exact values, to reflect differences within a given type of installation (e.g. differences in the grade/purity and quality of the finished product, differences in the design, construction, size and capacity of the installation, etc.) which result in differences in the environmental performance recorded when BAT is applied. The establishment of an emission limit should ensure that emission levels do not exceed that range. Setting the lower value of the range as a limit would oblige the installation to maintain emissions well below that value and therefore lower than the levels established as technically and economically available for the sector as a whole.
We believe it is necessary to add a new paragraph to Article 15 so that similar safeguards, such as those established for the energy sector, can be properly applied to other sectors, in exceptional circumstances that seriously affect supply chains and that may make it impossible to comply with emission limit values for limited periods of time.
- Compensation measures:
the amendment of Article 79. Bis proposes to introduce compensation measures where damage to health has occurred, in whole or in part, as a result of an infringement of national measures adopted under the DEI. If adopted, this would mean that the burden of proof lies with the operator. This would cause legal uncertainty, since an infraction could coincide with a damage to health for other reasons and, in addition, could have duplications with other laws.
Read full responseResponse to Land use, land use change and forestry – review of EU rules
8 Nov 2021
La industria española de la magnesia apoya plenamente los objetivos del Pacto Verde Europeo, así como el paquete de medidas «Objetivo 55» orientadas a reducir las emisiones netas de gases de efecto invernadero en al menos un 55 % de aquí a 2030, tal y como se establece en la Ley Europea del Clima. Lograr este objetivo supone un enorme desafío que requerirá el desarrollo de tecnologías bajas en carbono y su posterior adopción a escala industrial, la puesta en marcha de nuevas medidas contra el riesgo de fuga de carbono y, al mismo tiempo, establecer modelos de negocio viables que aseguren el crecimiento continuo y el empleo en Europa.
La Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Magnesia (MAGES) apoya y valora positivamente el aumento de ambición del Reglamento sobre el uso de la tierra, el cambio de uso de la tierra y la silvicultura (LULUCF por sus siglas en inglés) para contribuir a alcanzar la reducción del 55% de las emisiones de CO2 en 2030, lo que debe incluir la reducción de las emisiones derivadas del uso de la tierra y el aumento de los sumideros naturales de CO2 que se traduce en un apoyo un aumento de la biodiversidad.
Observaciones con relación a las modificaciones propuesta:
La introducción de sumideros naturales como medio para equilibrar las emisiones es una perspectiva válida a largo plazo que debe establecer un sistema contable sólido con requisitos de seguimiento, notificación y verificación para los sectores LULUCF.
Creemos firmemente que los sectores incluidos en el RCDE deben tener acceso a poder desarrollar sumideros naturales como una forma de mitigar sus emisiones. Este aspecto es especialmente a largo plazo, ya que las emisiones serán cada vez más difíciles de mitigar.
Este aspecto sería una solución perfecta para ayudar a descarbonizar a un sector como el de la magnesia, por un doble motivo:
o Se trata de un sector muy intensivo en el consumo de energía y cuyas 'emisiones de proceso de CO2', originadas por la descomposición de la magnesita (MgCO3) en magnesia (MgO), representan el 70% sus emisiones y que sólo se podrán reducir con el desarrollo e implantación a escala industrial de tecnologías CAUC.
o El proceso productivo incluye la extracción de materias primas para su posterior transformación. Esta actividad extractiva conlleva la rehabilitación de las canteras una vez agotadas. El sector tiene una gran experiencia en labores de rehabilitación que podrían enfocarse a la creación de sumideros naturales que ayuden a descarbonizar el sector a la vez que al cumplimiento de los objetivos globales de reducción de emisiones.
El uso de magnesia en las actividades agrícolas y ganaderas permite mejorar el balance de Carbono en estas actividades, en varios aspectos técnicos:
• Corrección de suelos ácidos, el óxido de magnesio permite corregir la acidez de suelos ácidos, de una manera modulada y sostenida en el tiempo.
• La magnesia aporta magnesio disponible en la fertilización, lo que redunda en una mejor función clorofílica.
• El aporte de magnesia en ganadería, para la alimentación de rumiantes, permite reducir la acidez y la reducción de gases de efecto invernadero como es el metano.
Ambas cuestiones tienen un rol importante en la gestión de todos los depósitos de carbono, incluidos la tierra y el ganado, el carbono en los suelos, el sumidero de carbono de las plantas y los flujos de gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) desde / hacia la atmósfera. El uso de la magnesia conlleva las siguientes contribuciones a la reducción de GEI:
• Incremento de la cantidad de carbono retenido en plantas y productos agrícolas
• Incremento a largo plazo de SOC (carbono orgánico del suelo) gracias a un buen y mayor rendimiento de las plantas (raíces y parte aérea)
• Reducción de la emisión de N2O gracias a un pH más alto (el N2O tiene un efecto de hasta 300 veces como GEI en comparación con el CO2)
• Captación potencial de CO2 durante la neutralización del suelo por recarbonatación
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Energy Tax Directive
8 Nov 2021
La industria española de la magnesia apoya plenamente los objetivos del Pacto Verde Europeo, así como el paquete de medidas «Objetivo 55» orientadas a reducir las emisiones netas de gases de efecto invernadero en al menos un 55 % de aquí a 2030, tal y como se establece en la Ley Europea del Clima. Lograr este objetivo supone un enorme desafío que requerirá el desarrollo de tecnologías bajas en carbono y su posterior adopción a escala industrial, la puesta en marcha de nuevas medidas contra el riesgo de fuga de carbono y, al mismo tiempo, establecer modelos de negocio viables que aseguren el crecimiento continuo y el empleo en Europa.
La asociación española de fabricantes de magnesia (MAGES) agradece la oportunidad de proporcionar sus consideraciones a la revisión de la Directiva sobre fiscalidad de la energía.
Apoyamos la intención de la Comisión de reestructurar y actualizar la fiscalidad de la energía en Europa. Este proceso debe tener en cuenta todos los costes energéticos a los que ya se enfrentan las empresas, así como la competitividad global de la UE, pero estamos profundamente decepcionados por la eliminación de algunas exenciones que son cruciales para la industria, como el uso de energía para procesos mineralógicos.
El proceso de fabricación del óxido de magnesio no emplea los productos energéticos ni como calefacción ni como combustible, sino exclusivamente como materia prima. El aporte de energía impulsa la reacción química que descompone el carbonato de magnesio (MgCO3) en óxido de magnesio (MgO) y dióxido de carbono (CO2). Se trata de una reacción endotérmica, que para que tenga lugar necesita elevadísimas temperaturas de horno (1600 - 2200 °C) y es muy intensiva en consumo de energía.
Conseguir la descarbonización de una industria tan intensiva en el uso de energía, como la de fabricación de óxido de magnesio, supone un enorme desafío que requerirá la adopción de importantes avances tecnológicos, como la captura almacenamiento y uso de carbono o la electrificación total o parcial de su proceso productivo, que actualmente no están preparados para su aplicación a escala industrial. Por ello, pensamos que mantener la exención del ETD a productos energéticos de doble uso en el caso de procesos mineralógicos, tal y como se ha mantenido para la electricidad utilizada principalmente a efectos de reducción química y procesos electrolíticos y metalúrgicos, sería esencial para que el sector pudiera afrontar con garantías el salto tecnológico necesario al que se enfrenta
Las industrias de gran consumo energético, como la de la magnesia, ya se enfrentan a una reducción gradual de derechos de emisión en virtud de la actualización del régimen de comercio de derechos de emisión de la UE (RCDE UE), lo que aumenta el coste de producción y el riesgo de fuga de carbono.
En este contexto, la pérdida de la exención a productos energéticos de doble uso en el caso de procesos mineralógicos, combinado con la reducción gradual de derechos de emisión gratuitos aumentará, aún más, la pérdida competitividad del sector y la incertidumbre que paralizará las inversiones ya iniciadas por la industria de la UE para impulsar la mitigación de las emisiones de CO2 del sector.
Por ello, solicitamos que se clarifique si el uso de energía en la fabricación de magnesia podría acogerse a la misma exención que los procesos metalúrgicos o si se debe recuperar explícitamente una exención específica para los combustibles usados en los procesos mineralógicos.
Read full responseResponse to Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
8 Nov 2021
La asociación española de fabricantes de magnesia (MAGES), agradece la oportunidad de proporciona sus consideraciones a la propuesta de Reglamento para establecer un Mecanismo de Ajuste en Frontera de las Emisiones de Carbono.
Si bien la industria de la magnesia apoya el concepto de un mecanismo de ajuste en frontera de emisiones de carbono (CBAM, por sus siglas en inglés), queremos hacer hincapié en la necesidad de adoptar un enfoque holístico que garantice la coherencia a la hora de aplicar las diferentes medidas del paquete «Objetivo 55». La descarbonización de la industria de la magnesita requiere importantes inversiones que necesitan un marco regulatorio adecuado que dote de seguridad jurídica y previsibilidad a las empresas de magnesia europeas y evite distorsiones significativas de la competencia con terceros países. A este respecto, el paquete debe:
Garantizar una base de costes de CO2 totalmente comparable entre los proveedores de magnesia de dentro y fuera de la UE para que no se debilite la protección frente a la fuga de carbono. Según el actual RCDE UE, sólo el 10% de las instalaciones más eficaces reciben de media la asignación completa y gratuita de sus derechos de emisión, lo que incentiva a las empresas a reducir sus emisiones de CO2.
Los valores de referencia para la asignación gratuita en el período 2021-2025, establecidos por ese 10% de instalaciones, es extremadamente exigente. Esto significa que la gran mayoría de los productores de magnesia de la UE soportan un coste de CO2 que, prácticamente, ninguna otra fábrica de magnesia del mundo debe afrontar. Cualquier coste adicional que no contemplado en el CBAM paralizará las inversiones ya iniciadas por la industria de la UE.
A este respecto queremos recalcar la necesidad de incorporar la totalidad de los costes indirectos en el CBAM, que aumentarán a medida que se avance en la descarbonización de la producción de magnesia. Se trata de un aspecto capital que puede tener un impacto diferencial sobre la competitividad de la industria europea frente a los importadores de fuera de la UE.
Es esencial que el CBAM incluya una exención de la tasa de CO2 para las exportaciones de plantas de la UE, cuando estas exportaciones se dirijan a países que no cuentan con un mecanismo similar de fijación de precios del carbono. Esto supondría un incentivo adicional para garantizar que terceros países establezcan sistemas de fijación de precios del carbono. Una vía que explorar es el llamado ‘principio de destino’, que exige que los operadores que exportan a un tercer país sean tratados de la misma manera que los operadores nacionales de ese país.
Garantizar un sistema sólido de seguimiento y verificación para evaluar los niveles de emisión en terceros países mediante el cual se midan con precisión las emisiones de las importaciones y se mitigue cualquier riesgo de elusión del CBAM mediante la redistribución de recursos, la importación de productos semielaborados no cubiertos por el mecanismo o medidas de apoyo público.
En el caso de que no se pueda proporcionar la declaración de emisiones incorporadas en el producto verificada por un verificador independiente, la única opción alternativa debe ser aplicar un valor predeterminado que se corresponda con la media del peor 10% de las instalaciones de la UE que producen ese producto, por lo que solicitamos que no sea válido aplicar el valor medio del país de origen del importador.
Evitar posibles desventajas competitivas durante el periodo transitorio. El CBAM no contempla limitar la cantidad máxima de producto que se puede importar a la UE desde terceros países, pero los proveedores de la UE tienen “limitado” su mercado debido al límite máximo de asignaciones gratuitas. Lo que, durante el periodo transitorio, puede crear una posible desventaja competitiva si el mercado de la UE aumenta por encima de ese límite.
Garantizar la coherencia entre las diferentes iniciativas legislativas del paquete de medidas «Objetivo 55»
Read full responseResponse to Updating the EU Emissions Trading System
8 Nov 2021
La asociación española de fabricantes de magnesia (MAGES) agradece la oportunidad de trasladar sus consideraciones a la propuesta de Directiva para actualizar el régimen de comercio de derechos de emisión (RCDE) de la UE.
A continuación se exponen brevemente algunas de las observaciones en relación con las modificaciones del RCDE UE propuestas, que se detallan en el documento anexo:
El sector europeo de la magnesia tiene un gran riesgo de fuga de carbono debido a su alta exposición al comercio internacional y a su elevada intensidad del carbono. Por lo que la escasez de derechos de emisión gratuitos debido a la previsible aplicación del factor de corrección intersectorial (CSCF), junto con el factor de reducción de los benchmarks representa una grave amenaza para la competitividad y la viabilidad del sector.
Teniendo en cuenta que el número total de derechos de emisión gratuitos es limitado, y el aumento en el nivel de ambición de las políticas climáticas de la UE, nos gustaría plantear la posibilidad de que la Comisión Europea reconsidere adoptar un enfoque escalonado a la hora de repartir la asignación gratuita. Esta opción, contemplada en el informe de evaluación de impacto que acompaña a la propuesta de actualización, permitiría una reparto más específico y equitativo de los derechos de emisión gratuitos. Orientando las asignaciones a los sectores con mayor riesgo de fuga de carbono y evitaría la aplicación del CSCF
La actualización del RCDE UE y la revisión del Reglamento de reparto de esfuerzos deben reequilibrar lo que hoy es un reparto desigual de responsabilidades para alcanzar el objetivo de reducción 2030. Para garantizar un reparto justo se debe de analizar las hojas de ruta de descarbonización, los costes marginales de reducción y el grado de exposición a la competencia internacional. Lo que debe redundar en un mayor porcentaje destinado a la asignación gratuita.
MAGES considera que las emisiones de proceso deben recibir el 100% de las asignaciones gratuitas, o al menos el 97% como hasta ahora, y que estén exentas de aplicación del factor de corrección intersectorial, si se quiere evitar la deslocalización de esta actividad, hasta que existan a nivel comercial sistemas de captura, almacenamiento o usos de CO2 que sean técnica y económicamente viables.
En lo que refiere a las asignaciones recibidas por el consumo de energía térmica, el principal inconveniente deriva del benchmark combustible que es transversal para los distintos sectores industriales en RCDE, impulsado por instalaciones que utilizan biomasa, se ha reducido un -24% (tasa máxima de actualización) a partir de 2021. Este valor es demasiado general y, claramente, no es representativo de la realidad de nuestra industria. Esta reducción del -24% pone de manifiesto que el benchmark de combustible no se ajusta a la situación actual de la industria de la magnesia.
MAGES considera fundamental dirigir los esfuerzos de inversión al desarrollo e implantación de las tecnologías que permitan descarbonizar el sector, por lo que ve inviable la implementación de todas las recomendaciones de las auditorías energéticas dada la escasa viabilidad económica que pueden tener muchas de ellas y el escaso impacto en reducciones de CO2. Por ello se solicita que se elimine esta penalización del 25% de la asignación ya que el propio precio del mercado de emisiones es la herramienta elegida por la UE para la optimización de las inversiones.
Read full responseResponse to Updating the EU Emissions Trading System
26 Nov 2020
The Spanish magnesia association (MAGES) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Commission Inception Impact Assessment for the “Amendment of the EU Emissions Trading System” to be adopted Q2 2021.
MAGES is determined to contribute strongly to the EU’s vision for a carbon neutral society by 2050 and support the objectives of the European Green Deal.
We would like to make some observation in relation to the ETS inception impact assessment:
The achievement of an increased 2030 target will require a fair effort-sharing between all sectors of the EU economy, and this should be reflected in the upcoming ETS Amendment.
In the light of the current health and sanitary emergency and the economic crisis that will follow, it will be essential to make sure that planned and future EU policies are adapted to the new context and are designed to avoid the collapse of productive systems and social cohesion throughout the EU.
Our sector is aware of the 2030 climate target increase proposal by the European Commission and consequently a need for strengthening of the ETS ambition. Nevertheless, an increase to the proposed 55% GHG is a challenge for European industry.
This is particularly relevant for an industry where the so-called ‘CO2 process emissions’, result from the decomposition of magnesite to magnesia , causes 70% of calcinated magnesite manufacturing emissions and are practically irreducible.
Another factor to consider is that magnesia sector has a high exposure to international trade and carbon intensity. In fact, it is a very sensitive sector to the international market.
Fuel benchmark is too broad and not representative of the reality of some sectors.
In phase 3 of the EU ETS, free allocation to magnesite installations industry has been determined using two approaches. Splitting into two sub-installations to which different types of benchmarks apply:
Fallback approach for process emissions: emissions considered “process emissions” result from the decomposition of magnesite (MgCO3) to magnesia (MgO). Each installation has its own fallback approach for process emissions depending on the composition and characteristics of its minerals deposit.
Fuel benchmark: emissions coming from the fuels used to heat the kiln (combustion emissions).
As set out in the revised EU-ETS Directive, benchmarks will remain a key element to determine transitional free allocation to industry. The benchmarks to be applied for phase 4 (2021-2030) are based on the ones developed for phase 3 (2013-2020). Only updates of the benchmark values are required
MAGES considers that the fallback approach for process emissions is appropriate. It is necessary to keep a case-by-case consideration of the raw materials composition. Each facility should continue to receive allowances for its CO2 process emissions (those released when magnesite is transformed) which are unavoidable at the present time, at least until carbon capture and storage technologies will be implemented on an industrial scale
The main inconvenience derives from fuel benchmark. Driven by installations using biomass the fuel benchmark is likely to be reduced by 24% (maximum update rate) from 2021. This factor is too general and clearly not representative of our industry reality. The proposal of -24% reduction highlights that fuel benchmark does not fit the situation in present-day magnesia industry.
More specifically, facilities producing magnesia used for animal feeding must comply with the requirements of Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed. This piece of legislation heavily restricts the type of biomass that may be used for producing calcinated magnesite for agricultural and livestock use. So, to reach emission values, based on fuel benchmark, in such a situation will be impossible.
It is essential that these specialised needs regarding fuel benchmark be considered during the review of the ETS.
Read full responseResponse to EU rules on industrial emissions - revision
20 Apr 2020
MAGES believes that the IED and the BREFs are delivering environmental performance across Europe because their approach is flexible, focuses on continuous improvements and addresses local environmental issues holistically.
MAGES has identified several aspects to be considered in the IED revision process:
The Seville process must be limited to the control of the relevant industrial emissions. Environmental authorizations cannot become the tool for controlling all types of legal requirements in the industry, nor should it become the appropriate tool for every upcoming environmental challenge by default.
IED objective and purpose is to address primarily environmental impacts (and preventing so overlap with other regulations), nonetheless it contributes to resource efficiency and as such indirectly to the climate change mitigation.
The IED is not the main tool for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) control, as stated in Art 9.1 of the IED: “the permit shall not include an emission limit value for direct emissions of that gas, unless necessary to ensure that no significant local pollution is caused”.
The Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), a market-based instrument, is the appropriate tool for the mitigation of CO2 emissions. It is essential to keep the status as it is, to avoid double regulation.
IED functions well because it follows a thorough review of best practices of technologies which can be used to reduce emissions. This process ensures that the correct technologies are selected and included in the BAT conclusions. The long-term stability and certainty in the legislation is a necessary factor for the industry to stay competitive and plan ahead. Given the required time period for a complete IED revision, it will be important that the next BREF revision cycle is not initiated until the IED revision has been finalized. In this way, the confusion of which rules to follow for both operators and authorities will be avoided.
An integrated approach (protection of the environment as a whole) that considers cross effects and other legislation. There should be an avoidance on any double legislation.
Possible cross effects and applicability are considerations that should be borne in mind when determining Best Available Techniques (BAT) during the Seville process.
Flexibility: cross-media effects (meaning rational compensation of some environmental effects with others), applicability and cost-benefit balance of Best Available Techniques must continue to be part of the Industrial Emissions Directive.
The process of reviewing the BREFs is becoming increasingly costly economically and in terms of human resources, given that their complexity is increasing greatly. The DEI must evaluate the efficiency of the process to simplify it, focusing only on the most relevant environmental aspects (KEI) and making the process more efficient and participatory.
In order to simplify and reduce unnecessary administrative burden, it should be unified in a single administrative procedure the period for public information that guarantees access to information and public participation in the permit procedure pursuant to this Directive with other public access to environmental information requirements of Union law, and in particular Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.
Applicability restrictions and cross-media effects shall be considered since “one size does not fit all”.
A special consideration should be made to avoid the transfer of unnecessary burden into the operator. In certain cases, implementation issues arise through the reporting activity required, which in some countries can be up to four times in one year. Implementation should focus on achieving simplification and agility of administrative procedures.
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Energy Tax Directive
31 Mar 2020
Spanish Magnesite Association (MAGES) supports an update of the legal framework for energy taxation in light of the recently published European Green Deal and of EU to meet its 2050 objective. But this initiative should take into account that:
• The ETD must not create additional or unnecessary tax burdens. Especially for European companies highly exposed to global competition. Any revision of the current tax rates should be based on robust impact assessments. The European Union, while leading by example, should encourage all international partners to establish similar tools globally.
• The ETD must ensure the European industry is adequately protected. For energy‐intensive businesses competing globally it is vital to ensure that the current “mineralogical processes” exemption remains. Within these companies, an increase in the energy cost could bring a significant loss of competitiveness in the international markets and increase the risk of carbon leakage. Non-avoidable energy use or emissions shall also be exempted to avoid discrimination within the European internal market.
• The ETD shall avoid a double imposed burden for companies. For instance, by recognising the need to avoid double taxation of emissions for installations already operating under other European climate regimes such as the European Emission Trading System (ETS). This will ensure an effective carbon pricing and that a potential revision of the ETD is aligned with the different climate policies applied at EU level.
MAGES strongly believes that energy taxation across the EU should facilitate this change, by offering the right tax reductions and 0% rates for the use of alternative and cleaner energy sources in industrial processes. This would play a pivotal role in supporting carbon neutrality in the industry, whilst protecting the competitiveness of the sector. We would therefore urge the European Commission to look thoroughly at these issues as part of its upcoming impact assessment.
For our industry it is essential that businesses can rely on legal certainty and stability of the policy framework for exemptions and reduced taxation levels granted. Any plans of introducing changes should be carefully assessed to avoid unintended consequences.
A stable policy environment is needed to enable long-term investment decisions in the EU. The exemptions and reductions that help protect the international competitiveness of mineralogical process and energy-intensive sectors must be maintained.
Any revision of the Directive should respect general principles of the Union law, in particular the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity.
Read full responseResponse to Revising the rules for free allocation in the EU Emissions Trading System
5 Jul 2019
Directive (EU) 2003/87/EC, as revised by Directive (EU) 2018/410 , establishes in Article 10a paragraph 20 that the level of free allocation given to installations whose operations have increased or decreased, as assessed on the basis of a rolling average of two years, by more than 15% compared to the level initially used to determine the free allocation for the relevant period shall be adjusted. The value initially used to determine the free allocation is the historical activity level (HAL) as determined using data collected in the National Implementation Measures (NIMs).
We want to highlight that reporting of activity level should be as less burdensome as possible, and that duplication of work or reporting must be avoided. For that purpose, the activity level must be reported together with the verified emissions report in a single verification exercise and this must be reflected more accurately in the text.
Finally, we want to emphasize that relevant technical physical changes in incumbent installation entailing an amendment in the activity level should have equal treatment as new entrants (for example capacity increase due to technological changes in incumbent installations).
Read full responseResponse to Commission Delegated Regulation establishing the Innovation Fund
11 Jan 2019
Please refer to MAGES comments in the attached document.
Read full responseResponse to Revising the rules for free allocation in the EU Emissions Trading System
17 Apr 2018
The European magnesia sector is one of the sectors at very high carbon lekage risk due to its high exposure to international trade and carbon intensity.In fact, it is a very sensitive sector to the international market, and the European Commission has intervened with antidumping regulations to protect European production.Process emissions are particularly significant for the magnesia sector accounting for over 70% of direct emissions.This result indicates that it will be difficult for this sector to improve their emissions intensity to match the rate of decline of free allowances in phase4 of the EU ETS,leading to exposure to a greater risk of CL.The magnesia production processes deal directly with this particular type ‘’geogenic process emission’’ which are unavoidable and impossible to reduce without reducing the production level,in the absence of economically viable techniques for the capture and uses of CO2 released (CCUS).This fact, a potential reduction in EU production, allows the entry of magnesia of non-European origin, with environmental requirements and use of fuels that are less demanding than the European requirements. Also must take into account the CO2 generated during transport to the EU. This situation is contrary to the principles of EU climate change strategy, since the problem of climate change is a global problem, and European citizenship should promote a global reduction in CO2 emissions from the products, goods and services consumed in the EU (have been produced or not in the EU).It is important to note that, until the technology and applications that allow the use of geogenic process emissions are developed, they must receive full free allocation to avoid the production transfer (risk of relocation) to other places outside the EU (without European standards of excellence).Magnesite was considered in 2014 a critical raw material for the EU policies due to its economic importance.The strategic uses are numerous in industrial sectors and agriculture (food chain supply).The European production fulfils all the environmental and safety regulations for all applications.As a key player in the EU ETS and as a sector highly exposed to carbon leakage, MAGES wishes to be involved and participate in the stakeholders debate. We are also prepared to provide the European Commission with data and evidence.
Read full responseResponse to Carbon Leakage List 2021 - 2030
13 Nov 2017
MAGES (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Magnesia) welcomes the European Commission’s publication of the Inception Impact Assessment for the Carbon Leakage List 2021 - 2030 (Ref.: Ares (2017)5046070) and wishes to express its interest in being involved as a key stakeholder during the entire process.
We also suggest that there is harmonisation between the tests for carbon leakage exposure resulting from direct and indirect carbon costs because any potential competitiveness impact is a function of the cumulative effect of both the direct CO2 costs and the indirect CO2 costs.
The proposed Phase IV design for the evaluation of sectors at risk of carbon leakage from direct costs uses a ‘carbon leakage factor’ which contains emissions intensity (direct and indirect) and trade intensity, in preference to the cost calculation used in Phase III.
Sectors eligible for compensation for indirect costs should be determined using the carbon leakage factor in a fair and predictable way which should avoid any unnecessary or unfair differentiation between EU sectors.
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