MADRID, 19 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, assured this Thursday in the Congress of Deputies that the Government will approve in the Council of Ministers next Tuesday the new aid to large industry to offset the costs of indirect carbon dioxide emissions of carbon (CO2).

This is an additional 65 million euros, up to a total of 244 million, which Maroto said in his appearance before the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Committee of Congress, in which he indicated that these funds "allow the maximum authorized by the European Comission".

This line is part of the support measures within the economic response plan to the crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a total of 448 million euros for the large energy-consuming industry, with an 80% reduction in the bill for transport and distribution tolls throughout 2022, and direct aid for gas-intensive industries.

Maroto has said that these aids, already approved by the European Commission, will begin to transfer to companies "in a matter of days". The Government's estimates are to be able to assist 1,600 companies, 85% of them SMEs, in the paper and coal, glass and ceramics sectors.