Charitable Activities of the Spanish Mining Holding HUNOSA for the Preservation of Industrial Heritage in the Context of Decarbonization

Abstract

Charitable activities of mining companies undertaken out of commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) are aimed at creating a favourable environment in the regions of operational presence. Mining companies mainly support the areas which are directly related to their core business or influence the life of local communities. The caste-based nature of mining as a profession has evolved over the centuries, as it combines hard physical labour and adverse working conditions. The mining labour union was the main social and political pillar of Asturias throughout the 20th century, while working class history largely accounted for the history of the region. The industry crisis of 1966 led the miners to submit a request to the government for nationalisation of their companies, as they sustained irreparable economic losses. As a response to their request, National Institute of Industry (INI) integrated into the coal sector, and in 1967 the mining company HUNOSA (Hulleras del Norte S. A.) was founded. After the democractic transition the mining labour movement maintained its social, political and cultural hegemony; however, industrial decline and decarbonisation undermined these foundations, no matter how deep-rooted they were. By the end of the 20th century the Asturian coal industry was faced with another phase of crisis. While the first blow came in the 1970s with the end of protectionist energy policies, the second one had to do with the inability to adapt to the conditions of the world market. In the 1990s Asturias faced a rapid population loss as well as rising unemployment. At the same time, general Western European trend of phasing out coal-fired power in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015 brought about a grave crisis of the coal industry. HUNOSA, the only monopolist on the Spanish coal market, is responsible for implementing a fair “coal transition”. The mining tradition that was passed down through generations and seemed immutable has come to an end. One of the responses of former miners to the dissolution of the industry is to become actively involved in the protection and promotion of the mining heritage. It manifests both a nostalgic yearning for the past and a willingness to preserve and pass on the memory of it to future generations.