December D-Day for oil prospecting

Palma.—Company, who said that he is hoping that the results prove negative, yesterday  reminded the Secretary of State for the Environment, Federico Ramos de Armas, that “politically and socially, the Balearics is deeply opposed to oil and gas prospecting in Mediterranean waters”.
The former Socialist government granted permits to  the British company Cairn Energy to prospect for gas and oil in Balearics waters, but the Balearic government, along with tens of thousands of local residents,  international environmental activists and tourism federations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland,  want the present government to revoke the permits.
However, as they were granted under royal decree, central government could be hit with a large compensation bill if it cancels the prospecting permits.