Control of stocks

One of CORES’ activities consists of monitoring compliance with the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks of natural gas. The procedures that guide this inspection activity are included in the Inspection Manual that is available to the obligated entities on infoCores.

Control of minimum security stocks

CORES' inspection area is facing new challenges to adapt to the new environment characterised by a growing number of obligated entities with a significant increase in the casuistry and the variety of their operations. Likewise, an adaptation and progressive renewal is required, determined by the frequency increase of inspections and reduction of their execution times, in order to discriminate, in the shortest time possible, those entities who fail to comply with their obligations and/or with allegedly fraudulent activities.

Documentary checks are made, based on the analysis of the information that the obligated entities have to send in to CORES (periodic information and information requested for this purpose).

These controls are either done in accordance with an annual plan that covers all of the obligated entities in the sector or may be conducted if noncompliance by an obligated entity is detected. 

These controls may be applied in accordance with an annual plan. Likewise, noncompliance may trigger these controls.

Noncompliance includes the following: 

• Noncompliance in the maintenance of minimum security stocks
• Noncompliance in the payment of the annual CORES fee
• Noncompliance in the submission of mandatory information

An investigation is opened upon detection of any noncompliance. If the offence is confirmed, the information is forwarded to the competent administrative authority. These incidents of noncompliance are considered serious or very serious offences under Law 34/1998.