On Wednesday, Chevron Romania presented its strategy regarding the exploration and exploitation of shale gas in Constanta and Vaslui.
Romania has enough natural gas for 10-15 years and the country must look for alternatives to ensure its energy security, said Tom Holst, Chevron Romania manager.
In March 2012, Romania approved a series of gas exploration deals signed with Chevron, which allow the latter to drill for shale gas at three blocks in the Black Sea.
In May, the Ponta Cabinet imposed a moratorium on shale gas exploitation until European Union-commissioned studies to assess possible environmental damage of hydraulic fracturing are finalized. The moratorium will be lifted once the results of the studies are made public and if they show shale gas exploitation poses no environmental risk.
Chevron’s plans to drill for shale gas have sparked protests from environmentalists worried about possible side effects of hydraulic fracturing.
The company recently received urban-planning permits from the Vaslui county council to explore three shale gas blocks in the county.