Repsol has announced its intention to move its planned prospecting project ‘Siroco’ to Morocco rather than carry out the operation in Málaga province.
Repsol cites opposition from businesses, residents, municipal authorities, fishermen, environmental groups as well as slowness of the Ministry of Environment in preparing an environmental impact study as the reasons for the change.
Permissions granted to Repsol by the Ministry of Industry to explore for gas in Málaga province expire on August 20th. However, the delay by the Ministry of Environment in producing an environmental impact study is posing a huge economic cost to the company so they have decided to begin operations off Tangier instead.
The company has deployed a semi-submersible platform off the coast of Morocco.