SPANISH REGIONS START TO CHALLENGE FRACKING

The Parliament of Cantabria approved last Monday a Law prohibiting the use of “fracking', a non-conventional technique for the extraction of oil and gas. By a unanimous vote, the Parliament approved  a prohibition to apply this conflictive  technique of hydraulic fracturing within the boundaries of the Autonomous Region. This decision challenges the opinion of the Central Government that has been making public statements in favor of the technique.

The recitals of the Law reproduce the usual arguments to challenge fracking. Mostly, because of its doubtful protection of health and environment, In fact, contamination can occur in aquifers due to undergroung injection of highly polluting and harmful products required by this gas exploration technique.

In the words of the Counselor for Environment, Planning and Urbanism of Cantabria, Javier Fernández. the law  approved by the Parliament (even with the vote of the regional branch of the Popular ruling party), is a clear, precise, and simple bet on the future.

Conversely, the representatives of Shale Gas Spain, the permit applicant company,  produced a press note rejecting the terms on which the law was enacted. The company actively defends the exploration and production of non-conventional hydrocarbons, while advocating for a “continuing dialogue to clarify the existing doubts about these exploration projects".

Of course, Shale Gas also makes a political use of the existing high unemployment level in the region by arguing that the law closes the door to the creation of jobs and investments, valued at 100 million Euros just for the exploration phase. A spokesman for Shale Gas Spain maintains that hydraulic fracturing is a safe and proven technique provided the best practices of the industry and tight control laws and management are applied.

This is a reasoning shared by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, who warned that fracking can be used only where and when all environmental requirements are met. In addition, the Minister  recalled that the Hydrocarbons Law of 1988 may be amended to include fracking practices in the current draft amendment legislation that will apply in the insular and extra-peninsular systems.

The law will identifies as “administrative offences” any actions that do not comply with or are in breach of the legal framework. At the same time, the wording includes an Interim Provision prohibiting existing and future permits in the pipeline alike.

The Parliament of Cantabria approved last Monday a Law prohibiting the use of “fracking', a non-conventional technique for the extraction of oil and gas. By a unanimous vote, the Parliament approved  a prohibition to apply this conflictive  technique of hydraulic fracturing within the boundaries of the Autonomous Region. This decision challenges the opinion of the Central Government that has been making public statements in favor of the technique.

The recitals of the law reproduce the usual arguments to challenge fracking. Mostly, because of its doubtful protection of health and environment, In fact, contamination can occur in aquifers due to undergroung injection of highly polluting and harmful products required by this gas exploration technique.

In the words of the Counselor for Environment, Planning and Urbanism of Cantabria, Javier Fernández. the law  approved by the Parliament (even with the vote of the regional branch of the Popular ruling party), is a clear, precise, and simple bet on the future.

Conversely, the representatives of Shale Gas Spain, the permit applicant company,  produced a press note rejecting the terms on which the law was enacted. The company actively defends the exploration and production of non-conventional hydrocarbons, while advocating for a “continuing dialogue to clarify the existing doubts about these exploration projects".

Of course, Shale Gas also makes a political use of the existing high unemployment level in the region by arguing that the law closes the door to the creation of jobs and investments, valued at 100 million Euros just for the exploration phase. A spokesman for Shale Gas Spain maintains that hydraulic fracturing is a safe and proven technique provided the best practices of the industry and tight control laws and management are applied. This is a reasoning shared by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, who warned that fracking can be used only where and when all environmental requirements are met. In addition, the Minister  recalled that the Hydrocarbons Law of 1988 may be amended to include fracking practices in the current draft amendment legislation that will apply in the insular and extra-peninsular systems.¡

The law identifies as “administrative offences” any actions that do not comply with or are in breach of the legal framework. At the same time, the wording includes an Interim Provision prohibiting existing and future permits in the pipeline alike.