Zierbena tax dispute: Court suspends Bahía de Bizkaia Gas property tax increase

The High Court of Justice of the Basque Country has ordered the suspension of three-quarters of the property tax (IBI) payment due this year from the regasification company Bahía de Bizkaia Gas. The company is contesting a tax increase implemented by the Zierbena City Council, which applied the maximum allowed rate of 0.8% of the cadastral value.

The tax update would have increased the company's bill by approximately 780,000 euros. The court's precautionary measure halts the majority of the payment until the legal dispute is resolved.

Zierbena Mayor Eugenio Mendikote defended the measure, stating it is part of a broader review of industrial taxation rather than an action against a specific company. He emphasized the need for a fair balance between supporting economic activity and ensuring industrial contributions support local community welfare.