Legal Provisions and regulations

The Spanish regulations on minimum security hydrocarbon stocks and measures to adopt in the case of crisis are as follows:

• Act no. 34/1998, of October 7, on the Hydrocarbon Sector.
• Act no. 12/2007, of July 2, amending Act no. 34/1998, of October 7, on the Hydrocarbon Sector so as to adapt it to the provisions stated in Directive 2003/55/EC of the European Parliament and Council, of 26 June 2003, on common regulations for the internal natural gas market.
• Act no. 25/2009, of December 22,from the amendment of legislation to adapt to the Law on free access to service activities and exercise.
• Royal Decree 1716/2004 of 23 July, which regulates the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks, the diversification of natural gas supplies and the Corporation of Strategic Reserves of Oil-based Products.
• Royal Decree 1766/2007 of December 28, amending Royal Decree 1716/2004 of 23 July, which regulates the obligation to hold minimum security stocks, the diversification of natural gas supplies and the Corporation of Strategic Reserves of Oil-based Products.
• Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Spain and the Government of the French Republic, regarding the mutual allocation of minimum security stocks of crude oil, petroleum intermediate by-products and oil-based products, signed in Madrid, on October 4th, 2000.
• Agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the Italian Republic, regarding the mutual allocation of minimum security stocks of crude oil, petroleum intermediate by-products and oil-based products, signed in Madrid, on January 10th, 2001.
• Agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic, regarding the mutual allocation of minimum security stocks of crude oil, petroleum intermediate by-products and oil-based products.
• Ministerial Order of 18 December 2000, on the storage of minimum security stocks in countries outside Spain’s territorial scope.
• Ministerial Order of 26 July 2007, amending Order of 18th December 2000, on the storage of minimum security stocks in countries outside Spain’s territorial scope.
• Ministerial Order of 11th October 2005, stating the rules governing the information duties of those liable to holding minimum security stocks of oil-based products including liquefied petroleum gas, and of natural gas, as well as the supervision powers of the Corporation of Strategic Reserves of Oil-based Products.
• Order ITC/3365/2010 of 22 December, by approving the quotas of the Strategic Reserves of Petroleum Products for the year 2011.

With regards to international regulations, those corresponding to the European Union and the International Energy Agency are listed below:

European Union:

• Council Directive 2009/119/EC of 14 September 2009, imposing an obligation on Member States to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products.
• Council Directive 2006/67/E C of 24 July 2006, imposing an obligation on Member States to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products (Codified version).
• Council Directive 73/238/ECC, of 24 July 1973, on measures to mitigate the effects of difficulties in the supply of crude oil and petroleum products.
• on the inclusion and implementation of individual agreements between Governments relating to the obligation of Member States to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products.

International Energy Agency

The rules and regulations of the International Energy Agency are set out in the different rules established by the International Energy Programme Agreement and development guidelines.

• IEP (International Energy Program).
• CERM (Coordinated Emergency Response Measures).

The procedures in the event of a crisis scenario are regulated by the following provisions:

• Council Directive 73/238, of 24 July 1973.
• Council Decision 77/238, of 24 July 1973.
• Council Decision 77/706/EEC, of 16 November 1977.
• Commission Decision 76/639, of 15 June 1979.
• Commission Decision 79/639/EEC, of 19 July 1979.

The most significant regulations indicated above are available below in PDF format. To make it more user-friendly, they have been grouped into sections.

• General provisions
• Development provisions of RD 1716/2004
• Orders on appointments
• Organisation and competences
• Ministerial Orders on fee approval
• Resolutions taken by the Directorate General for Energy policy and Mining regarding information on the hydrocarbon sector
• Council directives
• Bilateral Agreements
• Minimum security stocks in EU countries
• Resolutions taken by the National Energy Commission