Repsol to cease production at oil platform off Tarragona coast, last one in Spain
Company argues dramatic fall in quantity produced at Casablanca offshore drilling rig after four decades
Repsol will cease production at the Casablanca oil platform, 44km off the Tarragona coast in southern Catalonia.
In operation since 1981, it is the last offshore oil rig in operation across Spain and has a permit to remain open until 2028.
Yet, the Catalan News Agency (ACN) has learned that the energy company has decided to stop production at the rig, citing a dramatic fall in the amount of oil produced at the plant.
Repsol has notified the Spanish government that production will stop next June. Once production stops, maintenance work will be carried out to ensure the plant can be safely abandoned later.
During the 1980s, production peaked at 45,000 barrels per day - very far from the levels of oil production giants like Lybia, where production reaches 350,000 barrels per day.
In recent years, production has fallen to just 220 barrels per day.