A dull noise, a deflagration, smoke and an intense smell. That is the perception left by a shot of black powder without which the festivities of dozens of municipalities in the Mediterranean arch would lose an essential element. Landings on the beaches, taking fortresses or parades of Moors and Christians are remembered every year in municipalities of the Valencian Community, Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha to the rhythm of the shooting of arcabuces . But this summer a problem has arisen. The price of black gunpowder has skyrocketed in the market and has led to the National Union of Festive Entities of Moors and Christians (UNDEF) and to the festeros of a score of localities has requested the protection of the institutions so that the parties do not run danger.

What happened to make the kilo of black powder worth 300% more today than in 2006? This ammunition, also called ancient gunpowder, is the product of a mixture of 75% potassium nitrate, 15% sulfur and 10% charcoal. It is not very powerful, but generates a lot of smoke when it burns.

The weapons that are used in the firings and the alarms - simulacrum of combat between Moors and Christians - are usually arcabuces, an ancient weapon that the festeros load by the cannon with this black powder, refined, that they keep in their canteens. In the festivals of an average town such as Cocentaina (Alicante), 600 to 800 kilos can be consumed . In alardos such as Alcoy, whose Moors and Christians parties have been declared International Tourist Interest since 1980, the amount is multiplied: 3,100 kilos last April.

In Spain, festive entities can only buy gunpowder for their arcabuces from a single supplier: the Albacete Explosives company , which are the distributors. The rest of gunpowder manufacturers do not work with the caliber that these weapons need or do not have the permission of Industry to do so. “Years ago we had a Rio Tinto supplier, but we have only been working with only one company for a long time,” says UNDEF president Pepa Prats . This company, based in Montealegre del Castillo (Albacete), imports this type of gunpowder from Germany and its prices have risen. «What they told us is that in that German company there was an accident last year and they have not been able to produce it again until July, and not 100%. That is the reason they give us so that we have to pay 48 euros what was previously worth 32 ”, explains Prats. 52% more.

From this company they have declined to give this newspaper any explanation for this price increase. "They have met with us several times and we hope that as of September prices can be normalized," says the president of the party people, who has tried to find other suppliers throughout the country. «We could only locate 4,500 kilos of black powder in the Basque Country. But it had the somewhat larger caliber than we used and no gunsmith wanted to make the transfer ».

Even in the Valencian Community, where there are many companies that work with gunpowder powder, they have found who can supply it. Because the problem is the permissions . «Everyone tells us that the procedures and authorizations are so many that they are not interested. It is very difficult to sell this type of gunpowder, even if they are selling rockets, ”summarizes Pepa Prats.

And is that the Explosives Regulation of the Ministry of Interior is very strict regarding who can market and buy gunpowder for "acts of arcabucería". Authorization, liability insurance and criminal records of those who are going to throw the gunpowder, because not everyone can be a shooter. The municipalities must prove that any person who carries and throws gunpowder in an act of arcabucería must have training for it.

However, although the festive entities are the ones who buy the gunpowder, it is the festeros individually who pay for it , and their pocket is suffering. "The shots have diminished, because people are adjusting to these prices," says Prats, who has "the hope" that when the German factory works 100% "prices will be regularized again." Meanwhile, ask for the protection of the institutions to ensure the party.

At the moment, only the PP has responded, which intends to bring to Congress the modification of Complementary Technical Instruction number 26 of the Explosive Regulations approved in 2017, during the Mariano Rajoy stage. The intention is that I know that issues such as formulas for storage and distribution of gunpowder to shooters are made more flexible. In addition, they will request that the conditions that suppliers must meet to end the de facto monopoly that they advocate, they say, bureaucracy and that drown the party, be reviewed.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Valencian Community
  • Valencia

ValenciaThe club next to which a homophobic aggression happened describes it as an "isolated case"

The Spanish adoption martyr who was beheaded by the Nazis

Politics Valencian is required to bury English