The EIB signed a €350 million loan with Adif AV to modernize conventional and high-speed railway infrastructure in Spain. It is an investment that will ensure the quality of services overall is improved, so rail transport will be safer, more sustainable, and more attractive to users all over the country.

The loan is part of an €830 million investment in updating key components of Spain’s railway network. Key projects will upgrade communication systems, add interoperable technologies, and strengthen the network’s resilience to operational and climate related disruptions. These measures will minimize traffic disruptions and improve overall service delivery.

Key Projects on High-Speed Network

The high speed rail network will benefit from several improvements under this investment plan. Key projects include installing safety barriers, improving drainage systems, and enhancing access to technical installations along high-speed rail routes. They will introduce anti-vandalism modules and upgrade telecommunications, security, and energy systems.

The investment in conventional rail will focus on removing level crossings, renewing tracks, and upgrading telecommunications equipment. A key part of the project is expanding the GSM-R system, improving communication across additional rail lines.

Boosting Sustainability and Economic Cohesion

Pedro Marco de la Peña, President of Adif and Adif AV said, “The cooperation with the EIB is essential for Adif and Adif AV to continue to promote railways as a sustainable and resilient means of transport at the heart of the new mobility model demanded by the citizens. The loan signed today will enable us to maintain the highest quality standards already offered by our railway network to users, through a range of renovation and upgrading measures for the different railway systems.”

The loan supports the EIB’s mission to promote sustainable transport solutions and strengthens its role as the EU’s Climate Bank. A large portion of the investment will focus on cohesion regions, improving connectivity and also supporting economic and territorial growth in Spain.

Also read: EIB Provides €25 Million Funding to Resato Hydrogen Technology for Expansion and Innovation

Strengthening Climate Resilience

A key feature of the investment is its focus on climate change adaptation. The EIB and Adif AV have partnered to integrate climate impact assessments, protecting infrastructure from extreme weather events. This approach strengthens the railway system’s resilience, helping it adapt to climate challenges and remain operational in changing conditions.

Cloverdale Paint has announced that it has entered a parternship with Celanese Corporation. This collaboration will witness the utilization of Celanese’s carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology. The CCU technology will be employed to create new sustainable paint solutions.

Celanese has come up with a process that takes industrial CO₂ emissions and turns them into renewable feedstocks. The technology captures the CO₂ that would otherwise have gone into the atmosphere. Hydrogen is then used to convert the CO₂ into methanol, a key building block in vinyl acetate-based emulsions used in paint manufacturing. It is a method that reduces reliance on fossil fuels, supports a circular economy, and has lower carbon emissions compared to traditional processes.

Supporting Sustainability, Reducing Carbon Footprint

The collaboration between Cloverdale Paint and Celanese further endorses both companies’ commitment to sustainability. The partnership will reduce more than 1 million pounds of CO₂ emissions per year. This will be accomplished by using the captured CO₂ in products manufactured by Cloverdale Paint.

This fits into the broader goal of Cloverdale Paint in providing an eco-friendly paint solution without performance compromise.

Also read: IFC Supports Low-Carbon Cement Production in Senegal with €75 Million Green Loan

Commitment to Environmental Accountability

According to Cloverdale Paint president Darrin Noble, the firm’s Green Guarantee represents its core commitment to being a sustainable corporation. Under Green Guarantee, such initiatives are undertaking sustainable materials consumption, streamlining processes for lower waste, and lower carbon emissions.

A further note, according to Noble from Cloverdale, is that its paint is designed to deliver performance and long-term durability. Plus, it also guards against environmental abuse.

Celanese’s View on the Partnership

Celanese’s global sustainability director, Kevin Norfleet, expressed the company’s enthusiasm about the partnership. He noted that the collaboration with Cloverdale Paint demonstrates how CCU technology can accelerate the adoption of low-carbon solutions in industries like paint manufacturing. Norfleet emphasized that CCU technology plays a vital role in reducing the carbon footprint of products and advancing a circular economy.

This partnership between Cloverdale Paint and Celanese represents a significant step forward for the paint industry. Both companies are setting new standards by integrating sustainable practices and carbon capture technology into paint manufacturing. The collaboration not only helps reduce CO₂ emissions but also positions both companies as leaders in offering eco-friendly paint solutions to the market.