Chevron Responds to Romanians Fears of Fracking
“Shale gas exploration is NOT dangerous” say Romanian authorities.
Romania's Black Sea resorts have become a battlefield of statements after inhabitants expressed fears of earthquakes and of water pollution, should planned shale gas exploration proceed.
Chevron Corp. plans to explore for shale gas near the resort areas of Vama Veche and 2 Mai in three concessions in the area of Vama Veche, Adamclisi and Costinesti.
While Chevron intends to start the process for drilling for shale gas in the area of Barlad in the noth-east of the country by the second half of this year. The multinational says that it plans on restricting its activities in the three concessions to conducting seismic studies at this time. Nevertheless, locals are anticpating the introduction of hydraulic fracturing at some point in the near future.
Authorities are trying to calm worries, telling inhabitants that there is no danger and the area will not be destroyed.
Romanian Minister of Economy Varujan Vosganian said “the technologies used for exploring and production of gas from clay were extensively used in the world, including in Romania.The development and production of natural gas from clay has a history that has proved these operations can be safely and responsibly developed in relation to the environment… in the case of shale gas we must have several elements to see if the debate is worth it. We could make an exploration activity to know the situation in Romania, so that later we can proceed to exploration with new technologies.”
Vosganian also highlighted that required environmental permits had yet to be issued.
However Remus Cernea, a member of the present governing coalition who is also president of Green Party, takes a more radical position with respect to shale gas exploitation.
Cernea said he is against shale gas exploitation in Romania, despite Prime Minister Ponta’s approval. “We, the Greens, have said numerous times we are against this type of technology, hydraulic fracking, because this technology poses major risks to the environment.”
Chevron says that it "respects the freedom of expression and individual liberties" Despite protests, the company says that it remains committed to working with local communities to address any concerns in respect to natural gas development in Romania.
"Chevron understands that communities have expectations and concerns surrounding the development of natural gas from shale, and the company will continue to address these through frequent consultations with local stakeholders, and by respectfully addressing them through open and honest dialogue" commented Cristina Gaginsky, Chevron PR manager.
Gaginsky said Chevron recognizes the importance of informing the public about the technologies employed in the prospecting phase, technologies which are commonly used in the conventional oil and gas industry.
Silviu Molnar