(Thus reformed by article 1 of executive decree No. 41578 of February 25, 2019)
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Decreto 36693 · 01/08/2011
OutcomeResultado
SummaryResumen
Executive Decree 36693-MINAET declares an indefinite national moratorium on oil exploration and exploitation in Costa Rica's continental and marine territory. Grounded in the State's constitutional authority over hydrocarbons, the right to a healthy environment, and the need to reassess the cost-benefit of extractive activities in light of environmental costs, the decree suspends all pending applications before the Hydrocarbons Directorate and SETENA. Vested rights predating the decree are respected, and concessionaires may opt into the moratorium. The decree's recitals underscore Costa Rica's shift toward renewable energy, climate action, and carbon neutrality, moving away from the extractive industry. This moratorium marks a milestone in the country's environmental policy, consistent with its international climate commitments.El Decreto Ejecutivo 36693-MINAET declara una moratoria nacional indefinida para la exploración y explotación de petróleo en el territorio continental y marino de Costa Rica. Basado en la competencia del Estado sobre los hidrocarburos, el derecho a un ambiente sano y la necesidad de actualizar la evaluación costo-beneficio de las actividades extractivas, el decreto suspende todos los trámites pendientes de resolución final ante la Dirección de Hidrocarburos y la SETENA. Se respetan los derechos adquiridos antes de su publicación y se permite a concesionarios acogerse a la moratoria. El considerando destaca el cambio de rumbo del país hacia energías renovables, la lucha contra el cambio climático y la meta de carbono neutralidad, en lugar de la industria extractiva. Esta moratoria representa un hito en la política ambiental costarricense, alineada con sus compromisos climáticos internacionales.
Key excerptExtracto clave
ARTICLE 1. A national moratorium is declared through December 31, 2050, for any activity aimed at developing the exploration and exploitation of petroleum deposits in the national continental and marine territory. Transitory I.- All proceedings related to the exploitation of petroleum deposits in the national territory that are pending a final act declaring rights before the Hydrocarbons Directorate, the National Environmental Technical Secretariat or any agency of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, as of the date of publication of this executive moratorium decree, shall be suspended. Any vested right that arose prior to the publication of this decree shall be respected. Transitory II.- Those concessionaires who have a vested right and who expressly wish to avail themselves of this moratorium shall have a period of 30 days from the publication of this Executive Decree to submit a request to the relevant agency of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, indicating the administrative case file number.ARTÍCULO 1°. Se declara una moratoria nacional hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2050 para la actividad que tenga el propósito de desarrollar la exploración y explotación de los depósitos de petróleo en el territorio nacional continental y marino. Transitorio I.- Todos aquellos trámites relacionados con la explotación de los depósitos de petróleo en el territorio nacional, que se encuentren pendientes de un acto final declaratorio de derechos ante la Dirección de Hidrocarburos, ante la Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental o cualquier dependencia del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones, a la fecha de publicación del presente decreto ejecutivo de moratoria, serán suspendidos. Todo derecho adquirido antes de la publicación del presente decreto será respetado. Transitorio II.- Aquellos concesionarios que tengan un derecho adquirido y quieran acogerse expresamente a la presente moratoria, contarán para ello con un plazo de 30 días a partir de la publicación del presente Decreto Ejecutivo, para hacer llegar la solicitud a la dependencia del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones indicando el número de expediente administrativo.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"Que el Estado costarricense en el ejercicio de sus competencias debe asegurar el derecho constitucional a un ambiente sano y ecológicamente equilibrado, para lo cual dispone entre otras herramientas, de la potestad de dictar una moratoria en explotación petrolera, prevaleciendo el interés del Estado, sobre el interés privado."
"That the Costa Rican State, in the exercise of its powers, must ensure the constitutional right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, for which it has, among other tools, the power to decree a moratorium on oil exploitation, with the interest of the State prevailing over private interest."
Considerando 2°
"Que el Estado costarricense en el ejercicio de sus competencias debe asegurar el derecho constitucional a un ambiente sano y ecológicamente equilibrado, para lo cual dispone entre otras herramientas, de la potestad de dictar una moratoria en explotación petrolera, prevaleciendo el interés del Estado, sobre el interés privado."
Considerando 2°
"Que la lucha planetaria contra el cambio climático se dirige hacia economías bajas en emisiones de carbono, y que Costa Rica busca alcanzar este objetivo en forma progresiva, avanzando en su estrategia de carbono neutralidad."
"That the global fight against climate change is moving toward low-carbon economies, and that Costa Rica seeks to achieve this objective progressively, advancing its carbon neutrality strategy."
Considerando 5°
"Que la lucha planetaria contra el cambio climático se dirige hacia economías bajas en emisiones de carbono, y que Costa Rica busca alcanzar este objetivo en forma progresiva, avanzando en su estrategia de carbono neutralidad."
Considerando 5°
"Que para lograr estos objetivos la matriz energética debe orientarse hacia energías renovables, minimizando el uso de los derivados del petróleo."
"That to achieve these objectives, the energy matrix must shift toward renewable sources, minimizing the use of petroleum derivatives."
Considerando 6°
"Que para lograr estos objetivos la matriz energética debe orientarse hacia energías renovables, minimizando el uso de los derivados del petróleo."
Considerando 6°
Full documentDocumento completo
in the entirety of the text - Complete Text of Regulation 36693 Declares a National Moratorium on Oil Exploitation No. 36693-MINAET THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AND THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS In exercise of the powers conferred in articles 140 subsections 3) and 18) and 146 of the Political Constitution; Law No. 7399 of May 3, 1994, the Hydrocarbons Law (Ley de Hidrocarburos); and its Regulations, Executive Decree No. 25785-MIRENEM, the Organic Environmental Law (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente) No. 7554 of October 4, 1995, the Biodiversity Law (Ley de Biodiversidad) No. 7788 of April 23, 1998, and the Regulations to the Biodiversity Law, Executive Decree No. 34433-MINAE of March 11, 2008.
1. That in accordance with article one of the Hydrocarbons Law (Ley de Hidrocarburos), the State has absolute, inalienable, and imprescriptible dominion over the sources and deposits of petroleum and any other hydrocarbon substances existing in the national territory, over which the State exercises complete and exclusive sovereignty or special jurisdiction, pursuant to article 6 of the Political Constitution.
2. That the Costa Rican State, in the exercise of its powers, must ensure the constitutional right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment, for which it has, among other tools, the power to decree a moratorium on oil exploitation, with the interest of the State prevailing over private interest; and thus adjust State management to current social, economic, and biological needs.
3. That the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications is the governing body of the Energy sector, with the use of hydrocarbons being one of the powers under its charge, and among its tasks is the duty to guarantee the rational use of resources in harmony with the environment, oriented towards the protection of human health and the natural, economic, and social balance.
4. That the Executive Branch has determined that the economic and socio-environmental conditions prevailing during the 1990s, when the Hydrocarbons Law (Ley de Hidrocarburos) was enacted, have been modified, and consequently the direction Costa Rica has taken has been to move away from the extractive industry.
5. That the global fight against climate change is moving towards low-carbon emission economies, and that Costa Rica seeks to achieve this objective progressively, advancing in its carbon neutrality strategy.
6. That to achieve these objectives, the energy matrix must be oriented towards renewable energies, minimizing the use of petroleum derivatives.
7. That an update is necessary of the cost-benefit assessment of oil exploitation activities, in relation to their environmental costs. Considering the current royalties, the continuous improvement in oil safety practices, arising from oil disasters such as the one that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, and the establishment of monitoring and control systems for this activity.
8. That while this update and adjustments are carried out, it is advisable to proceed to decree a preventive moratorium on said activity. Therefore, They Decree:
MORATORIUM ON OIL EXPLOITATION (Note from Sinalevi: This executive decree was partially reformed and its text reproduced in full by article 1 of executive decree No. 40038 of November 29, 2016, published in Digital Supplement No. 314 to La Gaceta No. 244 of December 20, 2016, and is therefore reproduced below:)
Considering:
(Thus reformed by article 1 of executive decree No. 41578 of February 25, 2019)
Transitory Provision I.- All proceedings related to the exploitation of petroleum deposits in the national territory that are pending a final act declaring rights before the Hydrocarbons Directorate (Dirección de Hidrocarburos), before the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental), or any unit of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, as of the publication date of this moratorium executive decree, shall be suspended. Any right acquired prior to the publication of this decree shall be respected.
Transitory Provision II.- Those concessionaires that have an acquired right and wish to expressly avail themselves of this moratorium shall have a period of 30 days from the publication of this Executive Decree to submit the request to the relevant unit of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, indicating the administrative file (expediente) number.
en la totalidad del texto - Texto Completo Norma 36693 Declara Moratoria Nacional para la explotación petrolera Nº 36693-MINAET LA PRESIDENTA DE LA REPÚBLICA Y EL MINISTRO DE AMBIENTE, ENERGÍA Y TELECOMUNICACIONES En uso de las facultades conferidas en los artículos 140 incisos 3) y 18) y 146 de la Constitución Política; la Ley N° 7399 del 3 de mayo de 1994, Ley de Hidrocarburos; y su Reglamento Decreto Ejecutivo NS 25785-MIRENEM, la Ley Orgánica del Ambiente N° 7554, del 4 de octubre de 1995, la Ley de Biodiversidad N2 7788, del 23 de abril de 1998, y el Reglamento a la Ley de Biodiversidad, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 34433-MINAE del 11 de marzo del 2008.
MORATORIA A LA EXPLOTACIÓN PETROLERA (Nota de Sinalevi: El presente decreto ejecutivo fue reformado parcialmente y reproducido su texto íntegramente por el artículo 1° del decreto ejecutivo N° 40038 del 29 de noviembre del 2016, publicado en el Alcance Digital N° 314 a La Gaceta N° 244 del 20 de diciembre del 2016, por lo que se reproduce a continuación:)
Considerando:
Decretan:
(Así reformado por el artículo 1° del decreto ejecutivo N° 41578 del 25 de febrero del 2019)
Todo derecho adquirido antes de la publicación del presente decreto será respetado.
días a partir de la publicación del presente Decreto Ejecutivo, para hacer llegar la solicitud a la dependencia del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones indicando el número de expediente administrativo.
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