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Type a law, a topic, a person or a province.

What it is

Proposal to ban fracking throughout Spain

Admitted step 2 of 7 · Unfinished

It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 7 March 2017. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Confederal de Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-En Marea.

Official title: Private member's bill on the prohibition of the use of hydraulic fracturing.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000081· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The bill would ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) throughout the country as a technique to explore for and extract gas and oil. It defines the technique as one that uses high hydraulic pressure or chemical additives to fracture rock in a deposit.
  2. Breaking the ban would count as a very serious offense under the Hydrocarbons Sector Law. On top of fines of up to €30,000,000, the administrative permit could be revoked or suspended, and the company barred from the activity for five years.
  3. The bill would amend the Hydrocarbons Law to remove the reference to fracturing techniques, change the tax scale on oil and gas extraction, and delete the entry covering these activities from the annex of the environmental impact assessment law.
  4. The law would be enacted under the State's exclusive powers over economic planning and mining and energy rules. It would take effect the day after publication in the Official State Gazette, except for measures that increase spending or cut revenue in the current budget, which would wait until the next fiscal year.

Who it affects

  • Oil and gas companies: They could not use fracking to explore for or extract gas and oil, and would risk fines of up to €30 million and suspension of their permit.
  • Public administrations: They would have to enforce the ban and the new penalty regime nationwide.
  • Citizens and municipalities: The explanatory statement cites social and municipal opposition to the technique as one reason for the proposal.

Words worth knowing

Fractura hidráulica (fracking)
A technique that uses water at high pressure and chemical additives to fracture rock in a deposit and extract gas or oil.
Proposición de ley
A bill introduced by members of Congress. It is not a law until the full legislative process is complete.
Infracción muy grave
The most serious type of violation under the law, carrying the harshest penalties.
Disposición final
The final part of a law that amends other laws, states which powers are used, or sets when it takes effect.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.

  1. Introduced7 March 2017Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted14 March 2017The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
  4. Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Dec 2017Dec 201811. 7 March 2017: Presentación22. 14 March 2017: Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales Publicación desde 14/03/2017 hasta 17/03/201733. 14 March 2017: Calificación44. 17 March 2017: Gobierno Contestación desde 17/03/2017 hasta 27/04/201755. 27 April 2017: Pleno Toma en consideración desde 27/04/2017 hasta 05/03/201966. 5 March 2019: Concluido - (Caducado) desde 05/03/2019 hasta 27/03/2019

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.

It has not been presented again yet.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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