The Ministry of Industry has already granted Repsol the last permit it needed to start prospecting off Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The resolution was signed last Monday and has been published this Wednesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
On the same day that the Director General of Energy Policy and Mines, Jaime Suárez Pérez-Luca, signed that last permit, Minister José Manuel Soria met with Asolan, during the holidays he is spending in Lanzarote.
The authorization granted to Repsol involves the drilling of two wells, named Sandía and Chirimoya. In addition, depending on the results, it could carry out a third survey in the sector called Zanahoria. The point closest to the coast is 50 kilometers away and the depth of the authorized surveys is between 3,000 (in the case of Chirmoya) and 6,900 meters (in Zanahoria).
Now, before starting the prospecting, Repsol will have to inform the Ministry of the Environment and the Maritime Authority of the start and end dates of the surveys, "with at least one week in advance". The resolution specifies that the permit is valid for three years, from the publication in the BOE, which occurred this Wednesday.
Risk of damage to people, property and the environment
The Industry resolution itself recognizes that the activity of the surveys already generates risks, both for the environment and for property and people. In fact, it requires Repsol to have civil liability insurance and a financial guarantee, which total 60 million euros.
The civil liability insurance is "to face eventual damages to people or property in the development of the activities of execution of the surveys that are authorized in this resolution, for a minimum amount of 40 million euros." Before starting the surveys, Repsol must prove to the Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines that it has constituted that insurance, "without prejudice to the responsibility of the owners for any damage caused."
In addition, the oil company will also have to constitute "a financial guarantee specifically and exclusively intended to cover its environmental responsibilities, for an amount of 20 million euros." That guarantee must remain in force "during the entire period of activity and until its effective cessation."
Throughout a twelve-page resolution, Industry refers on several occasions to the risk involved in the surveys, and points out that Repsol "must take all kinds of precautions in preventing damages or risks, which as a consequence of the operations, may affect the safety of human lives, property, natural reserves, coasts, places of tourist interest and public facilities".
In addition, the State disclaims any responsibility and emphasizes that "the execution of the surveys will be carried out under the exclusive risk and responsibility of the operator", that is, Repsol.
