“These agreements include measures on the reduction of impact over the environment, damage remedy as well as environment restoration after drilling,” a government news release said Friday.
The ministry goes on to explain the course set for Chevron in local shale gas drilling.
The agreements concluded by the government refer to an initial exploration phase, where Chevron Romania needs to make seismic prospection and geochemical analysis.
Depending on the result of prospection, the company can then move to exploration, to establish whether there are economically usable resources. This stage requires environment authority approval.
If relevant resources are found, the company can move to development and drilling. This stage requires environmental approval as well, which is issued after an evaluation of the impact to the environment, taking into consideration European directives on this segment, according to the ministry.
Romania’s government recently approved the exploration and drilling agreements concluded between local mineral resources agency ANRM and US oil group Chevron for three Black Sea blocks.
The agreements, valid starting March 28, allow Chevron to explore, develop and drill for shale gas in the Vama Veche, Adamclisi and Costinesti blocks on the Black Sea coast.
The addendum to the government approval, which contains the main provisions of these three agreements, was classified.
The US giant’s intention to drill for shale gas in Romania sparked a large protest in Barlad, where the company holds rights to another block. The rally was joined by 5,000 people who claim the project’s cancellation, since the extraction method used by company, hydraulic fracturing, is believed to be dangerous.
Shale gas drilling was also mentioned recently by Romanian President Traian Basescu. During a speech held early March in Parliament, Basescu spoke of the economic potential of shale gas drilling in Romania. At that time, environment minister Laszlo Borbely told MEDIAFAX that Basescu had been previously visited by Chevron representatives.
Prior to this government approval, Chevron representatives met with Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, to make sure that operations can start. Talks were also attended by US Ambassador to Bucharest Mark Gittenstein.
The meeting came after Bulgarian authorities expelled the company, fearing the impact drilling would have on the environment. Authorities in Sophia are now working on a law banning hydraulic fracturing.