Lithuanian Minister Confirms Support for Shale
Lithuania’s support for shale gas extraction has been underlined by the Baltic country's energy minister, Jaroslav Neverovic.
Neverovic publicly restated support for Chevron Corp’s plans to explore for shale gas in the country after criticism of the project from a parliamentary committee, Bloomberg reported.
The Energy Minister voiced his position after a meeting with the head of Chevron’s Lithuanian representative office, the ministry in Vilnius said on its website.
"It is important to Lithuania to know its natural resources, because this might be a huge step towards energy independence," the minister said.
Earlier this month a parliamentary committee called for a moratorium on the project and an investigation into the local company that is half owned by Chevron.
The US energy major last year bought 50% of LL Investicijos and in January submitted the only bid in a tender for shale-gas exploration rights in Lithuania.
“The government has committed itself to undertake shale- gas exploration and, in the future, after suitable preparations, to consider the issue of production,” Neverovic said. “We have to support new innovative opportunities to reduce the cost of the energy resources we consume."