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What it is

Bill to ban oil and gas exploration and extraction at sea

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 30 November 2017. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Socialista.

Official title: Private member's bill on the prohibition of exploration, research, and exploitation activities for hydrocarbons or other mineral substances in the marine environment.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000152· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The bill would ban the exploration, research and extraction of hydrocarbons or other mineral substances in Spanish marine waters. It would also ban seismic exploration surveys, unless the technology used is scientifically proven to be completely harmless.
  2. The ban would apply only in the marine environment: inland waters, territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, including the seabed and subsoil. It would cover exploration authorizations, research permits and extraction concessions, including related facilities, but not the transport of oil and gas from coast to coast.
  3. Permits already in force when the law takes effect would remain valid. Applications filed but not yet decided when the law takes effect would be subject to the ban.
  4. Marine spatial planning plans could not set aside areas for oil, gas or other resource exploration or extraction facilities, except those already covered by permits in force. The law would take effect on the day it is published in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

  • Oil and mining companies: Could no longer get authorizations, permits or concessions to explore for or extract oil, gas or other mineral substances in Spanish waters.
  • The Government: Would process the bill, develop its implementing regulations and adapt marine spatial planning plans.
  • Sectors such as tourism, professional fishing and aquaculture: Would see their activities protected from hydrocarbon exploration and extraction at sea.
  • The marine environment and its wildlife: Would be protected from the accident and spill risks that, according to the statement of reasons, these activities cause.

Words worth knowing

Hidrocarburos (hydrocarbons)
Substances such as oil and natural gas.
Sondeos sísmicos (seismic surveys)
Studies that send waves against the seabed to detect oil or gas underneath.
Plataforma continental (continental shelf)
The area of the seabed that extends from the coast before reaching very deep waters.
Título demanial (public domain permit)
An official permit to use a public asset, such as an extraction concession.
Zona económica exclusiva (exclusive economic zone)
A band of sea where Spain has rights over natural resources, beyond its territorial waters.

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. Introduced30 November 2017Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted5 December 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 2017Mar 2018Jun 2018Sept 2018Dec 201811. 30 November 2017: Presentación22. 5 December 2017: Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales Publicación desde 05/12/2017 hasta 11/12/201733. 5 December 2017: Calificación44. 11 December 2017: Gobierno Contestación desde 11/12/2017 hasta 17/02/201855. 17 February 2018: Pleno Toma en consideración desde 17/02/2018 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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