The energy crisis that intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is challenging the EU’s long-standing commitments to decarbonize the economy. Coal and nuclear power are reappearing in several countries amid bottlenecks and high prices in electricity, oil, and especially gas markets. Nations seek greater independence and reliable energy supply. In this tense backdrop, Aragon urged the central government to revisit its veto and to pursue exploration and research into hydrocarbon deposits in various parts of the region, including Huesca.
This stance was articulated by Arturo Aliaga, Vice-President of Aragon and Minister of Industry, during the Energy Sector Conference held this Wednesday with Teresa Ribera, Minister of Ecological Transition. The aim was to lay the groundwork for a contingency plan for energy saving at the regional level and to anticipate the central government sending details to Brussels for review.
Back in 2018, the Government of Aragon received a request from Helios Aragon Discovery SL, a subsidiary of the British multinational company BP and Axión, to grant two hydrocarbon exploration permits in Barbastro and Monzón. The Aragon Ministry of Industry and the regional governor approved the move in May 2020, but the Climate Change and Energy Transformation Law, which came into force in February 2021, shifted powers regarding the exploration or exploitation of hydrocarbons. The new framework complicates authorization at the regional level.
Confronted with this shift, the General Directorate of Energy and Mining last July issued a partial termination by voluntary resignation, granting the research permits to the company. The Aragon government now seeks to overturn this restriction. Aliaga said a process has begun and that the law should be amended to reopen the possibility of investigation. He spoke to reporters after the Energy Sector Conference, outlining the regional stance.
He stressed that before any extraction or assessment of economic viability, several steps must be taken to advance research and discoveries. The consultant noted that the permits requested by the company were not connected to hydraulic fracturing, the fracking technique prohibited in the community since 2012. He clarified that Aragon’s governor did not advocate for fracking, but he argued that general permits could allow exploration of hydrocarbons, a possibility not currently permitted under the Climate Change Act.
European solidarity for energy
Regarding the contingency plan, Aliaga explained that the ministry drafted the proposal after gathering input from affected sectors and the autonomies. He emphasized the importance of paying close attention to the extraordinary European council of energy ministers meeting on Friday, where special measures may be adopted in response to the disruption of Russian gas supplies. Among the decisions to prepare for winter, he mentioned limiting or recommending reductions in electricity use during peak hours.
He added that energy vigilance is essential in the current context, urging all sectors to act with prudence and efficiency. He suggested that additional measures could be considered when the time is right. Some regions experience water cuts without widespread disruption, but energy policy must stay flexible and pragmatic to safeguard households and industries alike.
In this complex scenario, there is a recurring reference to European solidarity as a key tool to confront the energy crisis triggered by the situation in Ukraine. Spain and the autonomous communities must navigate the interconnections with neighboring power systems to maintain stability and supply.
Promotion of energy communities
Following central government decisions on gas price support in the electricity market, Aragon reports 35 energy plants of this type, adding up to an installed capacity of 512 MW. In the second proposal from the autonomies for the contingency plan, Aragon also sought approval for energy communities regulation, as the two EU directives transposition remains pending. The regulation would establish a model that supports the substitution of fossil fuels and enables self-consumption as a viable element of the energy system.
Aliaga stressed that energy policies must go hand in hand with industry. He laid out a clear commitment to protect vulnerable households from energy poverty, noting that thousands of thermal social bonuses have already been processed to provide aid and relief during the winter months. The overarching message is that pragmatic, market-aware decisions should guide both energy production and social support, ensuring access to essential resources such as gas for those in need.