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January 16, 2015 • 11:23
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Repsol ended Friday to controversial oil exploration in the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands for relief of environmentalists and Disappointment government, which hoped to reduce the high energy dependence of the country.
The Spanish oil group announced it had detected the presence of gas and oil in the sub basement 50 kilometers from the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, known for its volcanic landscapes and extensive beaches.
But the quality and volume of the reservoir is insufficient “to consider a future removal,” he said.
“The stores found are saturated existing water and hydrocarbons are not exploitable in very thin layers, “said Repsol, which ruled pursue polls in the area and sent the exploration vessel back to Angola, which is conducting other surveys.
Repsol, in the process of absorbing its Canadian competitor Talisman Energy, sought hydrocarbons from mid-November along the tourist archipelago of the Canary Islands, off the coast of northwest Africa.
So he proceeded to a first survey of 3,000 meters below sea where estimated to have between a 17 and a 19% chance of finding a site.
This project, approved by the Spanish government, angered environmentalists and regional authorities, concerned about the impact on local flora and fauna and on tourism, the main economic activity of the archipelago which received 10.5 million visitors in 2013.
The suspension did not appease the spirits the significant association Greenpeace demanded “the multinational and government to make an assessment of the impacts of their operations and how these have affected the flora and fauna of the area.”
According to the association, surveys “cause significant noise pollution” and “chemical pollution from drilling muds” in an area that welcomes thirty-six cetacean species of sea turtles.
In November, association had sent to the area to his ship “Arctic Sunrise” to denounce the survey, but was intercepted for several days by the authorities.
For the Spanish organization Ecologists in Action, the government must now review other permits for oil exploration in other coastal regions and in the Mediterranean Balearic archipelago.
The news is a setback for the Spanish government. “It’s very bad news for the Canary Islands and Spain”, reacted on the radio Onda Cero number two in the Ministry of Industry, Enrique Hernández Bento.
The vision of the president of the region, Paulino Rivero, contrary to surveys, was radically different: “the failure of Repsol is the success of the Canary Islands”, held
Madrid had given the green light for conducting three surveys, a contested measure by the regional authority. who tried to submit it to a referendum of the Canarian population although the central government blocked by the Constitutional Court.
Madrid had the discovery of hydrocarbons to reduce energy dependence of the country currently imports about 80 % of its energy.
Meanwhile, Repsol had put on the table important investment of 280 million euros for surveys and creating jobs, very sensitive issue in a region with a rate unemployment of 33.4%, almost ten points above the national average.
But the arguments failed to convince the population. According to a survey conducted in November by the national government, three out of four canaries opposed Repsol plans.
The Spanish oil group should focus in the coming months in the ongoing acquisition of Canada’s Talisman Energy , allowing you to enter the group of the fifteen largest, said the company.
Following his departure from Argentina in 2014, Repsol aims to strengthen its presence in North and Latin America and jump into the Asian market.
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