Permission has been granted for the first sections between Mijas and Rincón de la Victoria.

Repsol has announced it will start its search for gas off the Costa del Sol off Mijas next year. The company will first carry out work to determine the best locations for the main probes. There are six sections assigned for exploration along the Costa del Sol, from Fuengirola and Mijas in the west to Motril in the East. The areas from Mijas to Rincón de la Victoria have been authorised, but those to the east of Rincón are still pending authorisation.

The exact decision of when to start the exploration proper will be taken at the end of this year, and permission is granted until February 2014. A study of the sea bed indicates geological structure which could indicate the possible existence of pockets of gas.

The zones which will be searched - The green zones are still be authorised.

The exploration will be carried out from a mobile platform which will be moved as the search continues. A Repsol spokesman said that it usually takes about 60 days in each location. The results will determine whether there is enough gas present to justify the necessary investment for its extraction. 

The Government has the policy as strategic given the dependency Spain has on imported energy currently. They have dismissed any moratorium despite the fears for the tourist industry.

When the search areas between Rincón and Motril are granted, they will see the Canadian company CNWL carrying out the search. Along with the Costa del Sol there are two other areas of Spain thought to be sources of gas – The Gulf of Valencia and off the Canaries.

Source: http://www.typicallyspanish.com