Spain: Ballenoil to open 20 sites despite government plans on green transition

The Government’s announcement on banning CO2 powered vehicles has been made "precipitously, without consensus with anyone" and still has to explain "many things," considers the operator.

Ballenoil maintains its plan to open around 20 new gas stations in 2019 across Spain, despite the Government's announcement to enforce the installation of EV charging points.

The independent fuel operator is specifically targeting Castilla y León with the opening of 7 gas stations spread over León, Valladolid, Palencia, Segovia and Salamanca. New sites are mainly located in Madrid and Andalusia.

The group argues that it will continue with its expansion plans since the Government's plans for recharging points at gas stations has been made "precipitously and without consensus with anyone," expressed Ballenoil Director for Enlargement, David Querejeta.

"Many things, such as where they are going to move the 23,000 million euros they receive from direct taxes on fuels or how to create an energy structure that can withstand the massive demand when loading new vehicles are issues to be explained yet," added Querejeta in a press release.

The operator considers that charging points at gas stations located in cities are not viable. "Gas stations will cease to make sense and cease to exist. Gas stations sell gasoline, not electricity," said partner and Ballenoil Director for Operations, Juan Sanz.

Ballenoil informed that it had already studied the option of including recharging points in its sites but it was not profitable due to the high cost of adapting the pumps and the lack of development of the network.