Spain: Fracking Vote Imminent in Cantabrian Parliament

A vote in a Spanish regional parliament on Monday will determine the fate of hydraulic fracturing in Spain's potentially richest shale gas area, at least in the short term.

The parliament will decide on a proposed regional ban on fracking in the northern region of Cantabria. It is expected to yield to objections from environmental groups that "fracking" risks polluting drinking water, according to Bloomberg.

Energy experts say much of Spain’s gas exists in shale rock in the north of the country. Abundant rainfall and rivers of the Basque and Cantabria regions will facilitate fracking, which needs vast amounts of water to free gas trapped in shale rock.

The Cantabrian assembly is to vote April 8 on suspending the contested drilling technique “as long as current doubts on the technology remain,” according to the bill on the government’s website.

All political parties in the region supported the law in a March 21 debate.

BNK Petroleum Inc. and R2 Energy Inc. of Canada are among companies hoping mine for shale in Spain. Industry groups have said there could be enough gas in shlae to meet 70 years of national demand.

More than €100 million is to be invested in Cantabria just for exploration projects in the area, according to data from Shale Gas Espana, an industry-backed forum.

Spanish newspaper El Pais says the Ministry of Energy In the rest of Spain, the ministry has given permission to 22 companies to explore for gas by fracking in other parts of Spain, with most of the operations in the Ebro river basin.