Protests against shale gas extraction in Romania and Bulgaria are planned for Wednesday against the background of a potential shift in the Bulgarian government's stance on hydraulic fracturing.

Opponents of the development of the unconventional gas, plan rallies in the capital cities of Sofia and Bucharest, as wella as a march and gathering at the Durankulak-Vama Veche border crossing and in prospective shale gas regions in both countries.

While the Romanian government has come out in favour of shale gas development, activity in Bulgaria was halted with a moratorium on all shale gas exploration and production in early 2012.

 Bulgarian environmnetals who have been supporting their colleagues in Romania were shocked to hear that a Bulgaria's Environment Minister suggested that the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing was a temporary measure.

Interviewed Monday on bybTV, Iskra Mihaylova said that opposition to shale gas drilling was triggered by public mistrust of Bulgarian and EU laws.

She noted that the existing moratorium on hydraulic fracturing rejected the powers of environmental laws in Bulgaria and the EU, saying "no, we shall not conduct exploration activities and we are not even interested whether such an option exists."

The Minister said continued that Bulgaria’s present environmental legislation was well placed to allow initial shale gas exploration to be undertaken to identify resources. A review of potential environmental and health risks could subsequently be undertaken to decide if development should proceed.

Chevron is planning to proceed with shale gas exloration in Romania and was planning similar activities in Bulgaria, including in the Dobrudzha (Dobrogea) area near to Vama Veche.

Romanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Rovana Plumb, recently allowed permits for the exploration for shale gas in the Dobrogea region. Permits have been issued for work in several blocks in the Constanta municipality by the village of Vama Veche near the border with Bulgaria.