Ivan Jimenez, president of the Bilbao Port Authority, has taken active part at Enlit Europe 2025, a key event of the energy sector in Europe and held this year in Bilbao.

Mr. Jimenez has been a speaker on the EU Project Talk – Live Podcast “Energy & European Ports”, focused on analysing the role of European ports in the energy transition and in the deployment of key infrastructure for the decarbonisation of maritime transport. The session was moderated by Areti Ntaradimou, Brussels Editor for Enlit Media and EU Projects Officer.

During his speech, the president of the Bilbao Port Authority highlighted the port’s commitment to the electrification of its docks, renewable energy generation, digitalisation and energy self-sufficiency, and outlined the progress being made on strategic projects such as the hydrogen hub and ongoing European initiatives. Mr. Jimenez also stressed the need for the European

Union to establish clear mechanisms for recognising and rewarding ports that have already delivered on electrification targets, even when the market, particularly the availability of vessels ready to connect, has yet to be fully developed. He pointed out that failure to do so would run the risk of rewarding inaction, to the detriment of those ports that have invested decisively, taking risks and contributing their own resources, supplemented by EU funds and, in the case of Bilbao, with the support of the Basque Energy Agency (EVE). As he himself said, “Europe must support those who have done their homework, not those who are waiting for everything to be resolved”.

The Enlit Europe event in Bilbao has made the city and the Port of Bilbao the focal point of the European debate on energy, innovation and sustainability, further consolidating the role of the port as a benchmark in the Atlantic Arc in terms of energy transition and advanced port policies.
Source: Bilbao Port Authority