FAQ

What does CORES do?

CORES contributes to ensuring the security of supply of hydrocarbons in Spain by maintaining petroleum product reserves and controlling the stocks held by the industry with regard to petroleum products, liquid petroleum gases (LPG) and natural gas. Additionally, it is the statistical agent in the hydrocarbon sector in Spain.

CORES' functions were extended in May 2022 to include biofuels control. 

Moreover, CORES contributes to ensuring appropriate diversification of natural gas supplies in Spain, controlling that no one country of origin provides more than 50% of supplies, in accordance with current legal limits. 

Who are CORES members? 

• Wholesale petroleum product operators
• Wholesale liquid petroleum gas operators (LPG)
• Natural gas shippers

How is information submitted?

The information is submitted through the information exchange platform infoCores, designed by CORES to guarantee security and facilitate the management of the information sent in by all of the obligated entities on its website. Use of the application requires a digital signature and representation authorisation adequate for the purpose. 

How are sales reports submitted?

It is obligatory to submit sales reports using infoCores, which can be accessed via the www.cores.es website.

What is infoCores?

infoCores is the secure information exchange platform that CORES has designed to ensure security and facilitate management of the information submitted by all the entities obliged to do so. 

What is the role of CORES in SICBIOS?

CORES does not participate in the management of the Biofuel Certification System, which is administered by the Certification Entity (Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge). CORES' functions consist of carrying out inspections related to the incorporation of biofuels in accordance with article 14 of Order ITC/2877/2008 and that relating to its sustainability, in accordance with article 15 of Royal Decree 376/2022, the Certification Entity being able to incorporate the results of the inspections carried out by CORES into the certifications it carries out.

When are the new annual fees applied?

The fees are calculated annually by CORES based on the expenditures budget presented each year at the General Assembly for its approval and subsequent ratification by Order of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge for each calendar year.

Once the fees are approved for the entities obliged to maintain minimum security stocks of petroleum products, the first statement to which they are applicable, is the statement and payment made in January for December’s sales or consumption.

In the case of the entities obliged to maintain minimum security stocks of liquid petroleum gases and natural gas, the annual summary report and payment of the fees approved in the Ministerial Order shall correspond to the sales or consumption made during the calendar year for which the fees are approved. 

What happens if an obligated entity doesn’t meet the payment deadlines?

If an obligated entity does not pay its fees by the due date, a bill will be issued for the interest accumulated for the late amount, at an interest rate 3 points above the legal rate of interest. 

Non-payment of CORES contributions or fees can be considered serious or very serious noncompliance, according to the provisions of Law 34/1998, of 7 October, on the Hydrocarbon Sector. In consequence, certain penalties may be applied and, in the most serious cases this could result in disqualification from the exercise of the activity. 

What can be done if there is an error on the sales report that was already submitted?

Another positive or negative report must be submitted, depending on the adjustment that needs to be made on the report submitted previously. It must include those amounts that correct the initial figure until it reflects the amount that should have been declared in the beginning.

If I have no activity do I have to submit the forms?

The forms must be always submitted, even when there is no operational or commercial activity, from the activity start date indicated in the notification (or document that substitutes it) approved by the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. 

We announced our activity start-up but now we do not intend to start operations yet, what do we have to do?

You can send the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge a notification of an activity commencement delay, indicating a later date. In this case, the mandatory CORES contributions are postponed until that date. 

What happens if real sales are much different than the original sales forecast?

You can submit a letter to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge justifying the deviation from forecasted sales and substituting the original sales plan for a new adjusted plan. 

What happens if I don’t submit information every month?

The omission of information can be considered a serious or very serious offence according to the provisions of Law 34/1998 on the Hydrocarbon Sector.

Can a company that is an obligated entity be inspected without having committed an offence?

Yes, CORES prepares an annual Inspection Plan that classifies the obligated entities according to their features and history. Based on this classification, CORES chooses the entities that will be inspected.  

Does an obligated entity have to maintain minimum security stocks at all times, or is it enough to hold them until the end of the month, when the information is reported?

Obligated entities must maintain minimum security stocks at all times.

Who is obliged to maintain minimum security stocks of petroleum products and pay CORES fees?

All the obligated entities that make eligible sales, as follows: 

• Petroleum product operators, for their annual sales in the domestic market, with the exception of sales to other wholesale operators.  
• The companies engaged in retail distribution of oil-based fuels, for their annual sales in the domestic market not supplied by the wholesale operators. 
• Consumers of oil-based fuels, for the part of their annual consumption not supplied by wholesale operators or by the companies engaged in retail distribution activity of petroleum products. 

Who has to submit information to CORES?

The entities obliged to maintain minimum security stocks must send the following information to CORES through infoCores:

• Before the 20th of each month, the data report corresponding to the 29 May 2007 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.
• Before the 20th of the months of May, August, November and February, the 3G quarterly data report of the 29 May 2007 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.
• Before the 20th of each month, the monthly sales declaration.
• Before the 31st May, the annual sales audit corresponding to the previous year. 

In addition to the entities obliged to maintain stocks, the storage facility owners, lessors and biofuel production plants are obliged to submit the following information to CORES, which will make it possible to verify the data submitted by the obligated entities: 

• Before the 20th of each month, the data report corresponding to the 29 May 2007 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.

Additionally, other subjects, that without being obliged, do maintain hydrocarbon stocks because of their activity or in favor of foreign subjects, are also required to submit information.

When do the sales declarations have to be submitted and the corresponding payment made?

The declarations must be received before the 20th of each month, reflecting the sales or consumption of the previous calendar month.

There must be a sales or consumption declaration filed even if there are no eligible sales. In this case, the report will show “zero”. 

Together with the declaration, and without CORES having to take any action, the obligated entities must pay the corresponding fee into the CORES current account indicated on the reporting form. 

How are minimum security stocks maintained?

In petroleum products, based on sales and by product groups: 

• Road and aviation petrol
• Road diesel fuels, other diesel fuels, kerosene for aviation and other types of kerosene  
• Fuel oils 

Within each group of products stocks can be maintained in any of the products, for example, road diesel fuel can be kept with other diesel fuels. 

It is also permissible for stocks to be maintained in the form of raw material, based on the equivalencies assigned by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and according to the limits established under domestic regulations.

How is the obligatory contribution amount affected by the fact that “only 90% of the stocks held can be counted toward minimum stockholding”?

Given that 10% of the stocks held cannot be counted toward maintenance of minimum stocks, they must be increased proportionately. Therefore, the calculation of total reserves to be maintained is as follows:

Given that sales among operators are not counted, if I make a sale to another company or purchase from it, how can I be sure that company is or is not an operator? 

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has a list of wholesale petroleum product operators available.

During the first year of activity I have to maintain stocks based on a sales plan. Is this same rule applicable to the fee I pay to CORES?

No. The CORES fee is always paid based on the real sales of the previous month. 

Can an obligated entity apply to Cores to maintain its minimum security stocks?

Yes, an obligated entity can request to Cores to maintain minimum security stocks. For that, the obligated entity must apply in the number of days of the obligation, for the specific product groups, by the deadline and according to the allowed and approved procedures.

Can an obligated entity count the products that it stores in a service station as part of its minimum security stocks?

No. The minimum security stocks cannot include the products stored at service stations, in accordance with article 10 of RD 1716/2004.

Who is obliged to maintain minimum security stocks and pay CORES?

All the obligated entities that make eligible sales, which are:

• LPG wholesale operators, for their annual sales in the domestic market, except sales to other wholesale operators.
• Companies engaged in retail distribution or sales of LPG, for their annual sales in the domestic market that are not supplied by the wholesale operators.
• Consumers of LPG, for the part of their annual consumption not supplied by wholesale operators or by the companies engaged in LPG distribution or sales.

What information has to be sent to CORES?

The entities obliged to maintain minimum security stocks of LPG must send the following information to CORES through infoCores:

• Before the 20th of each month, the data report corresponding to the 29 May 2007 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.
• Before the 20th January, the annual sales declaration.
• Before the 31st May, the annual sales audit corresponding to the previous year.

In addition to the obliged entities, storage facility owners and lessors are obliged to submit the following information to CORES, which will make it possible to verify the data submitted by the obligated entities:

• The data report corresponding to the 29 May 2007 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.

Additionally, other subjects, that without being obliged, do maintain LPG stocks because of their activity or in favor of foreign subjects, are also required to submit information.

When must the sales reports and the corresponding payment be made?

The report covering the previous calendar year must be received before the 20th January.

The sales or consumption report must be completed even if there are no eligible sales to report. In this case, the report will show “zero”.

Together with the report, and without CORES having to take any action, the obligated entities must pay the corresponding fee into the CORES current account indicated on the reporting form.

How is the obligatory contribution amount affected by the fact that “only 90% of the stocks held can be counted toward minimum stockholding”?

Given that 10% of the stocks held cannot be counted toward maintenance of minimum stocks, they must be increased proportionately. Therefore, the calculation of total reserves to be maintained is as follows:

Who is obliged to maintain minimum security stocks and pay CORES?

All the obligated entities that make eligible sales, which are:

• Natural gas shippers, for their confirmed domestic sales.
• Direct consumers in the market, for the part of their confirmed consumption not supplied by authorized shippers.

Who should submit information to CORES and what information should they submit?

The obligated entities must submit the following information to CORES:

• Before the 20^th of each month, the questionnaire corresponding to the 15 December 2008 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.
• Before 5^th February, the form on eligible sales or consumption for the calculation of minimum security stocks.
• Before 30^th April, the annual sales report.
• Before 30^th April, a list of imports by country of origin corresponding to the previous calendar year.

In addition to the entities obliged to maintain stocks, the distributors, carriers and System Technical Manager have to provide the following information to CORES, making it possible to verify the data submitted by the obligated entities:  

• The questionnaire corresponding to the 15^th December 2008 Resolution of the Directorate General of Energy and Mining Policy.

Additionally, the System Technical Manager must submit to CORES before 15^th January the available capacity of the set of basic underground storages on 1^st April.

When must the sales reports and the corresponding payment be made?

The report covering the previous calendar year must be received before the 20^th January. The sales or consumption report must be completed even if there are no eligible sales to report. In this case, the report will show “zero”.

Together with the report, and without CORES having to take any action, the obligated entities must pay the corresponding fee into the CORES current account indicated on the reporting form.

What is the difference  between the annual reports that I have to send in?

Before 5^th February, the questionnaire 16, included in the questionnaires approved under the 15^th December 2008 Resolution, must be sent by infoCores. The questionnaire includes the confirmed and interruptible sales or consumptions of the previous calendar year. CORES calculates, for each obligated subject, its obligations to maintain minimum security stocks for 1^st April and 1^st November, as well as for the dates included in the filling trajectory.

The sales report must be completed on infoCores before the 30^th April, and it serves to determine the fee to be paid to CORES.

How are the days of confirmed sales calculated?

The obliged entities must maintain at all times 10 days of strategic stocks and 10 days of minimum operating stocks of the system.

Additionally, they must maintain the days of minimum operating stocks of the user calculated annually according to article 4 of Order TED/72/2023, as of 26^th January, based on the filling trajectory indicated in article 6 of that Order. Before 10th February, CORES will notify each obligated entity the amount of its obligation to maintain minimum security stocks.

If I haven’t made any sales do I have to maintain stocks?

Yes. During the first year of activity (counted from the date shown on the activity commencement notice), the obligation is calculated based on a sales forecast that must be approved by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, regardless of the real sales that are taking place. However, if your activity has continued for more than 12 months since the date shown on the activity start date notice and you have never made any sales, you are not obliged to maintain minimum security stocks. 

How can I know whether my company is obliged to diversify supply origins?

If your company’s supplies represent less than 7% of the annual Spanish market, it is not obliged to diversify its portfolio. 

If they represent more than that, and the main supplier country provides over 50% of your supply, the company may be obliged to diversify its portfolio under the terms established by the regulation.

What is the role of CORES in SICBIOS and what regulations establish it?

CORES does not participate in the management of the Biofuel Certification System, which is administrated by the Certification Entity (Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge). CORES carries out inspections related to the incorporation of biofuels in accordance with Article 14 of Order ITC/2877/2008 and those related to their sustainability, in accordance with Article 15 of Royal Decree 376/2022. The Certification Entity may include the results of the inspections carried out by CORES in the certifications.

My company uses fossil fuels and/or biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport: is my company a reporting party?

Article 41.1 of Law 11/2013, of 26 July, on Measures to Support Entrepreneurs and Stimulate Growth and Job Creation, establishes the parties that are required to demonstrate compliance with the targets for the incorporation of biofuels, which are maintained in the implementing regulations (click here). Specifically:

• Wholesale distributors, as defined in Article 42 of Law 34/1998, of 7 October, on the hydrocarbon sector, for their annual sales on the national market, excluding sales to other wholesale distributors. 

• Entities engaged in the retail distribution of petroleum products, as defined in Article 43 of Law 34/1998, of 7 October, for the part of their annual sales on the domestic market not supplied by wholesale distributors. 

• Consumers of petroleum products, for the part of their annual consumption not supplied by wholesale distributors or by undertakings engaged in the retail distribution of petroleum products.

If your company is in one of the above situations, it is a reporting entity. In addition to the biofuels obligations, as a reporting party it must also take into account the obligations relating to the maintenance of minimum security stocks and the National Energy Efficiency Fund (FNEE).

As a reporting party, do I have to register with SICBIOS (Reporting System for Certification of Biofuels)?

All reporting parties must apply to open an account and/or register in the certification system within one month of obtaining their status (click here).

¿What about my doubts regarding the content of the information that my company submits to the SICBIOS?

CORES carries out the activity of verifying the integration and sustainability of biofuels, so any questions regarding the submission of information to SICBIOS must be addressed directly to the Sub-Directorate General for Hydrocarbons and New Fuels of the Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines (bzn-SGH@miteco.es).

I can’t access SICBIOS, can CORES help me?

The operation of SICBIOS is managed by the Sub-Directorate General for Hydrocarbons and New Fuels of the Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines (bzn-SGH@miteco.es)

Does the information sent to CORES for minimum security stocks have to be the same as the information sent to SICBIOS for the incorporation of biofuels and other renewable fuels in transport?

Information on the same subject submitted to different bodies must always be consistent. The products subject to the obligation to incorporate biofuels and other renewable fuels to be reported to SICBIOS (mainly automotive products) are a subset of the products subject to the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks. Consequently, reporting to SICBIOS and CORES must be consistent and the criteria applied must be justified in the audits so that the information can be processed and traced. 

In the context of an inspection file, should the information on biofuels provided to CORES be consistent with that provided to SICBIOS for the incorporation of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport?

CORES, in the exercise of its functions in the field of the incorporation of biofuels and other renewable fuels and their sustainability, may periodically or from time to time request information and supporting documentation from the parties concerned.

The information submitted by the reporting party must be as up-to-date as possible and consistent with the data to be submitted to SICBIOS. If complete information on recent operations is not available, information on biofuels and other renewable fuels will be included on the basis of contractual agreements between the parties.

If, in a file processed by CORES, the information provided by the reporting party is not consistent with the information provided to SICBIOS, CORES will report the discrepancies to the Biofuels Certification Body for consideration in the certification of the period inspected.

My company has gone through an inspection process with CORES on biofuels and/or their sustainability. What happens after a report?

According to the current regulations, if the report affects the results of the certification, it will be sent to the Certification Body (Sub-Directorate General for Hydrocarbons and New Fuels, of the Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines) for consideration. If the report indicates possible non-compliance, it will be sent to the Competent Administrative Authority (currently the CNMC) for possible sanctions.

What is the regulatory framework applicable to the biofuels sector?

The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has a specific regulatory section that covers the basic regulatory aspects of the sector (click here), as well as a section with the resolutions relating to certification in SICBIOS (click here)

What percentage of biofuels must I include?

Royal Decree 1085/2015, of 4 December, on the promotion of biofuels (click here) establishes the minimum mandatory targets for the sale or consumption of biofuels for transport purposes for the period 2016-2026.

What are the sustainability requirements for biofuels? 

Order TEC/1420/2018 of 27 December (click here), which develops the sustainability aspects of Royal Decree 373/2022 (click here) for the National Sustainability Verification System. If, in addition to Royal Decree 373/2022, your company operates under a voluntary system/scheme approved by the European Commission and/or a national scheme subject to a favourable decision by the European Commission, you should refer to the specific documents that regulate each of them. At the same time, they must comply with all the general aspects of Spanish legislation that may be relevant regardless of the form of sustainability accreditation.

Which verification body/certification body can be used to verify sustainability requirements?

For voluntary schemes, the website of each scheme lists the control bodies accredited by the scheme. For the National Sustainability Verification System, in accordance with Order TEC/1420/2018 (click here), the accredited verification bodies can be consulted on the website of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (click here)

Deadlines for the transfer of information on the sustainability of the biofuel or renewable fuel from the biofuel seller to the biofuel buyer.

In the case of transfers under voluntary systems/schemes, the proof of sustainability (commonly referred to as the PoS) must generally be transferred within 30 days of the transaction, but for more precise information in these cases you should refer to the specific rules of the voluntary scheme in which you operate or from which you receive it.

With regard to the Spanish National Sustainability Verification System, sellers of sustainable products must have the sustainability information that they pass on to their customers and make it available to them for compliance with their obligations, with the content indicated in the regulations. Thus, according to Order TEC/1420/2018 (click here), operators must issue, on a monthly basis, a report regarding the incoming quantities and storage levels at the beginning and end of the period, and the outgoing quantities of sustainable and non-sustainable products. In addition, in accordance with CNMC Circular 5/2020, with regard to mass balance, the inventory closure period for storage facility operators and regulated entities will be a maximum of three months. The above information is considered sufficient to complete the sustainability declarations to be exchanged between parties referred to in Order TEC/1420/2018.

What does CORES publish?

CORES prepares the Hydrocarbon Statistics Bulletin (HSB) on a monthly basis. It includes the most significant sector information: consumption, imports and exports, production, stocks held and prices of the most relevant products.

Annually, CORES prepares the Annual Statistical Report, which includes a numerical overview of the hydrocarbon market, both domestic and international. 

CORES also prepares the i_Cores, a tool that offers information in a clear and accessible way, complementing quantitative and qualitative contents.

When does CORES publish the Hydrocarbon Statistics Bulletin (HSB)?

The HSB is published on the 25th of each month, with data from two months before. In other words, in March the data corresponding to January is published.

When does CORES publish the Annual Statistical Report?

The Annual Statistical Report on the hydrocarbon sector is published in July with the data corresponding to the previous year.  

Where can I find the information prepared by CORES?

The statistics are found in the Statistics section.

The publications are found in the Publications section.

The i_Cores are found in the i_Cores section.

What is i_Cores?

It is a new bilingual tool that offers information in a clear, accessible way with an innovative format, complementing quantitative and qualitative contents. The i_Cores topics cover everything from regularly-published significant sector indicators to specific reports on current matters that make it possible to know and understand the sector’s situation.

What is the preliminary consumption information? How long is it valid?

The preliminary consumption information is the first estimate on consumption of the foremost petroleum product groups (LPGs, petrol, kerosene, diesel fuel and fuel oils), as well as natural gas consumption. Normally it is published on the first day of a month, with information from two months before; for example, the data corresponding to January is published the first of March. This preview is valid until the statistics for the month in question are published.

What statistics does CORES publish?

CORES prepares statistics on crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas; the figures include consumption data, imports and exports, production balances, stocks held and domestic production.

How often are the statistics updated?

Statistics are updated monthly, normally on the 12th of each month, with data from two months before; for example, the data corresponding to January is published in March. Additionally, the statistics are maintained permanently updated, so that if better information on previous months becomes available, it is included in the corresponding update.

Does CORES prepare local statistics?

CORES prepares statistics on provincial-level consumption for the following products only: 95 RON petrol, 98 RON petrol, road diesel, agricultural vehicle diesel, diesel heating fuel and low-sulphur heating fuel oil. The biofuel percentage in gasoline and diesel are also published on a provincial level. 

CORES has no local data.