The Mayors of Calasparra, Caravaca, Cehegín, Moratalla, and Cieza are expected to propose a regional law which will prohibit the extraction of gas through fractures (fracking).
The new norm, which could be approved by the end of this year, is being proposed by the PSOE Socialist Party and Podemos.
The five mayors are going to meet the spokesperson for the regional assembly, Joaquín López, the deputy and former mayor of Calasparra, Jesus Navarro and Paco Baraza, specialist in the environment, to analyze the text of the new norm.
The Mayor of Moratalla says all the Town Halls in North West Murcia region have passed motions in their full council meetings declaring their areas “free from fracking.”
He explained that fracking used a large quantity of water, which the area did not have, and claimed there could be leaks and contamination of the natural wells, which would be irreparable.
The first fracking permits in Murcia date back to 2009, Aries I and II, and in 2013 two more were granted: Leo and Escorpio, and a further was applied for, Acuario. The permits affect around 280.000 hectares in an area which extends through the provinces of Murcia, Albacete and Alicante, with a population of more than 200.000.
The company, Oil and Gas Capital were planning to start trial drilling in the first few months of this year in an area of 20,000 hectares in Calasparra, Moratalla and Cehegin, although this hasn´t yet happened.
A new project aims to drill to 2,500 metres deep in the Calasoarra area, which could affect the natural wells in the area.
