In Euskal Herria, we know the risks of fracking. What are the risks of fracking in Catalonia?

Fracking may be more risky in some regions, but it is clear to us that it is not a local issue. The motto used by the Fracking Ez platform is as follows: “Neither here nor anywhere.” The cooperation of all those who work against this barbarism is essential.

You have denounced on more than one occasion that the greatest risks of digging the mountains are in Girona. What is there that is not in the rest of Catalonia?

The greatest danger is in the town of Riudaura, where Muntanya is natural. In the 1960s, Riudaura had some 600 inhabitants, but there were five oil extraction towers that affected all citizens. When Franco was about to end, there were more ongoing projects that had been suspended in the 1980s. There seemed to be no threats, but a few years ago the media began to publish that in our mountains and under our house there was oil. The origin of the information is unknown; geologists consider that there is very little oil in Riudaura and throughout the territory of Girona.

After so many investigations, you have managed to see who is behind the fracking in Catalonia.

We have had to do both of our own and our own genituen.Eta, yet after so many years, we still don’t know for sure who’s behind. In our case, in Riudaura, the permit was requested by a company called Teredo Oils. It is a small company with an office in Madrid, with a share capital of less than 3,000 euros. We researched and found links with Montero Energy to Teredo Oils.

A couple of years ago you had very confusing days in Riudaura and in the towns around it. They seemed to dig right away.

From one day to the next, we started seeing marks on the trees. They gave the impression that they were about to dig. As we were in a hurry, we got to work; almost all the inhabitants participated in the assemblies of some peoples. The older adults performed surveillance 24 hours a day to prevent the start of the perforation. I am very proud of the work done, not only because fracking has been banned, but because we gave an organizational subject. The 15-year-olds and their 80s grandparents had a very different ideology and political thinking in the assemblies.

Although they have not succeeded in banning hydraulic fracture, they have modified urban regulations. How was the process until then?

I would summarize it in five steps. We first met in the peoples with the political parties. Ideology, nobody wanted fracking. Many citizens are militants and pressured the leadership of their parties to stop the process. Subsequently, a commission was set up in the Catalan Parliament, led by the Cup, which refused to negotiate. All the political parties were present at the event, although not all were clear about the position they were going to take in the same direction. At least we were clear that ERC, ICV and the CUP were in our favour. Thirdly, the committee's decision was to ban authorizations. There could be no research and, therefore, no holes. To justify the ban, the committee used the word "risk". The fourth step was to call for a fracking ban, but that's very difficult and then it didn't go ahead. However, it is possible that fracking will be definitively banned in the next legislature. Finally, the urban regulation was modified in its entirety. As a result of the change, the use of hydraulic fracture in Catalonia is very difficult for companies.

In his words, it can be understood that the threat continues to exist.

Yes, of course. For starters, fracking is not totally forbidden. It is practically impossible to use the technique, but we want to eliminate that “almost”. And on the other hand, we've seen the strength of companies and entrepreneurs who, just like they're able to move the land, in offices are able to change the law from top to bottom.

The Fracking Ez platform launched a People’s Legislative Initiative in the CAV, and following the collection of signatures, the request for a ban on fracking was introduced in Parliament. In Catalonia, however, this has not been the case.

If we had had time, I would have liked to set it in motion. But our situation was critical, we did not have time to proceed with the collection of signatures. It was different, but we were willing to do anything to defend our country and to lose shape with the politicians of our parties. And so it was: we lost shapes when we pressed, I admit. In view of the outcome, I do not regret it.