Wendy WilliamsBy Wendy Williams
GREEN groups have slammed a ‘dead end’ plan to prospect for oil and gas in rural inland Andalucia.
Ecologistas en Accion and WWF are up in arms over the eight million euro scheme that will see Spanish company Oil and Gas Capital scour 95,000 hectares in both Jaen and Sevilla provinces.
The environmental groups are extremely concerned about the move insisting it is moving a long way from the country’s claimed green goals.
“It is a bad move and will lead to a dead end,” Ecologistas en Accion spokesman Daniel Lopez told the Olive Press.
“The era of oil has to disappear sooner rather than later, it would be much better to make the transition to renewable energy.”
The WWF has backed the concern insisting any drilling could serious endanger vital water aquifers.
It comes despite the company insisting the exploration – backed by the Junta – will be entirely ‘non-intrusive.’
But the search for ‘black gold’ has received glowing support from many town halls who have been drawn in with the promise of a €300 million investment.
It could lead to 500 direct and indirect jobs if any trace of oil or gas is found.
Oil and Gas Capital, based in Barcelona, is already carrying out similar searches in Cantabria, Levante and Murcia.
The company has been given a maximum of six years to carry out the exploration of the subsoil.
“This is important project, of great magnitude, that can change the face of Andalucia,” insisted company
spokesman Agustin Dominguez.
“If we find any gas and oil here, it will make sense not to have to buy from the Maghreb.”
