A preliminary analysis of the Draft Industry Law, which may soon be presented to the Council of Ministers, highlights two particularly notable aspects concerning energy management. On one hand, the proposal requires industrial facilities to develop an energy efficiency and ecological transition plan, and on the other, it mandates a comprehensive diagnosis of the industrial sector’s situation, covering aspects such as logistical and energy infrastructure.
Regarding the plan, the draft proposes that it should “outline the facility’s decarbonization pathway, specific measures for reducing emissions and energy consumption based on the best available techniques, increased use of renewable energy, and a tentative timeline for implementing these initiatives.”
From our perspective, this proposal is undoubtedly necessary. However, enforcing such a “requirement” could encounter bureaucratic hurdles. Many industries, particularly large ones, already have such plans or might even be implementing them without having formalized them in writing, often as a matter of course. Therefore, it would be beneficial for the law to include mechanisms that assist medium and small industries in creating these plans. The focus should be less on penalizing industries without a plan and more on equipping them with the tools to develop one.
As for conducting a diagnosis of the industrial sector’s situation, it is especially relevant that the draft recognizes the need to analyze energy infrastructure. This reflects the necessity of aligning industrial and energy strategies. Understanding the availability of infrastructure is crucial for decision-making, whether it’s to capitalize on existing infrastructure or to identify gaps in availability, such as potential shortcomings in the electric grid’s transmission networks.