What it is
Bill to allow exploring and exploiting Spain's own energy resources
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 6 September 2022. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario VOX.
Official title: Private member's bill amending Law 7/2021, of 20 May, on climate change and energy transition, to include the concept of energy sovereignty and reverse the prohibition on the exploration, research and exploitation of Spain's own mineral and energy resources.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000251· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill, introduced by the VOX parliamentary group, would amend the climate change and energy transition law to include the concept of energy sovereignty and again allow exploration and exploitation of Spain's own mineral and energy resources.
- It would change the law's purpose and guiding principles: the new goal would be securing Spain's energy sovereignty with cheap, abundant energy, and the principles would include the prosperity of Spaniards, scientific rigor and promoting national industry.
- It would delete several articles of the current law that banned hydrocarbon exploration, research on radioactive minerals, aid to fossil fuel products or coal exploitation, and would also remove the second transitional provision and the fifth final provision.
- Applications for exploration, research and exploitation that were denied under the current law could be filed again, including those using high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
- It would require the Government to send the Cortes, within three months, a tax reform bill that drastically cuts taxes on electricity and motor fuels.
- The law would be enacted under Article 149.1.25.ª of the Spanish Constitution and would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.
Who it affects
- Energy and mining companies: They could apply again to explore and exploit hydrocarbons, radioactive minerals and coal in Spain.
- Consumers of electricity and fuels: The bill seeks to lower energy bills by cutting taxes on electricity and motor fuels.
- The Government: It would have to submit a tax reform within three months and issue the rules to implement the law.
- Local governments: The obligation to promote zero-emission mobility plans in municipalities would disappear.
Words worth knowing
- Soberanía energética (energy sovereignty)
- A country's ability to secure its energy supply using its own resources and buying abroad on the best terms.
- Proposición de ley (bill introduced by a parliamentary group)
- A text through which a parliamentary group proposes a new law; it is not a law until passed.
- Fracturación hidráulica (hydraulic fracturing)
- A technique to extract gas and oil by injecting water under pressure underground.
- Taxonomía europea (EU taxonomy)
- A European Union list that classifies which energy activities count as sustainable.
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.
- Introduced6 September 2022Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted8 September 2022The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
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?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000251
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- 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.