Chevron to Convince Romania Shale Gas is 'Clean'

Business » ENERGY | April 3, 2012, Tuesday // 19:54
Bulgaria: Chevron to Convince Romania Shale Gas is 'Clean' Photo by Direct Petroleum Bulgaria.

US energy giant Chevron has issued a statement saying it will embark on a campaign to convince that exploration and production of shale gas is environmentally safe.

End of last week the Romanian government granted Chevron a permit to explore for shale gas in the south-east sections of the country, just accross the land border with Bulgaria.

Many thousand-strong protests have been already held against the permit in Romania, where citizens fear that the technique used in shale gas exploration and production - hydraulic fracturing - is hazardous for ground water.

Similar protests in Bulgaria caused the Bulgarian government to revoke a permit issued to Chevron to drill for shale gas in a region on the Bulgarian side of the border with Romania.

On January 18 the Bulgarian Parliament passed a moratorium on shale gas exploration and production in the country, but nevertheless high-ranking state officials have already called for a revision of the ban.

At the same time Tuesday Chevron has in effect dispelled earlier reports claiming it has given up its interests in shale gas in Romania.

According to the corporate statement, the US company plans to carry out in the following 12 months seismic studies to explore for shale gas in the area of Vama Veche, Adamclisi and Costinesti.

"We understand the concerns about shale gas exploitation in Romania. We believe that after we present the factual information about the technique, Romanians will learn that this gas is clean and can be safely produces," stated Chevron Romania director Tom Holst.

"Our studies will be carried out in a way sensitive to the culturally valuable sites, townships and habitats. Only after carrying out all those precautionary measures will we proceed to request a permit for shale gas production," added he.

At the same time, it is not clear whether the exploration and prospecting measures to be taken by Chevron involve hydraulic fracturing.

The US company also stated that its contracts with Romania are classified due to the Romanian government's requirements, not Chevron's, and that Chevron will make everything possible to make them available to the public.

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Tags: Bulgaria, Romania, Romanian, shale gas, environmentally hazardous, hydraulic fracturing, Chevron, US

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