The event held yesterday at Iberdrola's headquarters, in the tower bearing its name in Bilbao, gathered a significant portion of Euskadi's political and business elite. Hosted by Anne Igartiburu, the ceremony was enhanced by the music and voices of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and the Bilbao Choral Society, who performed, among other pieces, a rendition of the song ‘Let the River Run’ by singer-songwriter Carly Simon.
Yesterday's event served as a tribute to the employees, suppliers, shareholders, and institutions that have made the company's century-long history possible. Iberdrola will hold its general shareholders' meeting in Bilbao on May 29. The celebration will extend to the entire society of Bilbao in a few weeks with a music festival and a light show open to the public. Furthermore, yesterday also saw the presentation of a book detailing the trajectory of a company that has continuously grown, particularly in the 21st century.
The volume is structured into three main sections. The first reviews Iberdrola's history from its origins in Bilbao in 1901. The second focuses on the company's profound transformation over the last 25 years, during which, thanks to investments in networks, renewables, and energy storage, along with a commitment to international expansion, Iberdrola has become Europe's largest electricity company and one of the two largest globally by market capitalization. Finally, the third part projects the future of the electricity sector and Iberdrola's role in an era characterized by the electrification of the economy.
The president of the electricity company, Ignacio Galán, presented a copy of the book to the lehendakari, Imanol Pradales. Pradales expressed his gratitude for the gesture, defining Galán as “our Basque businessman from Salamanca,” while acknowledging the “permanent and constructive dialogue” they maintain. In the front row, listening to their speeches, were the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, the Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, Vice-Lehendakaris Ibone Bengoetxea and Mikel Torres, the delegate of the Spanish Government, Marisol Garmendia, Iberdrola's institutional delegate in Euskadi, Asís Canales, the President of the Basque Parliament, Bakartxo Tejeria, and the President of the BBK Foundation, Xabier Sagredo.
Also present were the president of the PNV's EBB, Aitor Esteban, the president of the jeltzale party's BBB, Iñigo Ansola, the Secretary General of the PSE-EE, Eneko Andueza, along with other members and officials of the Basque Government. The business community was also widely represented, with the presence of the president of Kutxabank, Antón Arriola; the president of Confebask, Tamara Yagüe; the president of Cebek, Guillermo Buces; Javier Ormazabal, president of Velatia; Alexander Artetxe, president of Arteche; and the CEO of Petronor, José Ignacio Zudaire. Additionally, Juanjo Baños, general director of Grupo Noticias, and the president of the Sabino Arana Foundation, Arantza Tapia, were also in attendance.
Galán pointed out that the book focuses on the company's “profound transformation” over the last 25 years, during which, thanks to investments in networks, renewables, and energy storage, and a commitment to expansion, Iberdrola has become not only “Spain's leading electricity company, but Europe's largest electricity company and one of the two largest in the world.” This has been achieved while “breaking records year after year, both in dividends for shareholders, and in its social commitment, job creation, tax contributions, and investments.” The company, which contributes 10.4 billion euros in taxes in the countries where it operates, has invested over 175 billion euros since 2021 to expand electricity grids.
