Spain to fine bunkering companies in Gibraltar waters
As a result of the recent diplomatic battle between Spain and the UK over the sovereignty of Gibraltar, the region’s bunker industry is progressively becoming the centre of Spain’s attention.
The latent environmental regulations will permit Spain to fine bunkering organizations working in Gibraltar waters up to 2m euros while a boycott on fuel sales to Gibraltar is apparently under thought, althoughUK and Gibraltar officials argue that Spain has no authority in the area. What’s more the Finance Ministry intends to ban the petroleum products sale to the Rock, especially since they pay no VAT.
Spanish Environment Minister Miguel Arias Cañete stated that new regulations might allow fines on operators of anchored mother ships and their customers. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, told the Gibraltar Chronicle: “This is Spain legislating extra-territorially for something that is beyond the jurisdiction of Spain. If the Spanish Government decides to take that line, it is a huge escalation of the way that they are dealing with this issue.”
Spanish media have reported that the nation’s Ministry of Finance was considering to stop sale of petroleum products to Gibraltar by Spanish companies. Spain’s focus on the bunker industry was one of the topic considered during the meeting of Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Mr Picardo with UK executive David Cameron a week ago.
Read more about the continuing row between Spain and Gibraltar in the article Gibraltar row impacts bunkering
