Police Checkups At Forest Funds In N Romania Reveal Illegal Tree Cutting
Checkups conducted by special officers with the Public Order Department (IGPR) and by police officers within the Maramures County Police Inspectorate revealed the illegal cutting of 1,866 trees.
Checkups were conducted between March 4 and 6 and targeted to prevent and fight forestry-related crimes. (Puterea)
Former U.S. Ambassador Says Locals Should Get Part Of The Profit From Shale Gas Exploitation
The existence of exploitable shale gas reserves must be confirmed and the people living in areas where shale gas exploration works are executed ought to get a part of the profit obtained from exploiting shale gas, former U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest Mark Gitenstein told an interview for PRO TV.
Gitenstein stressed that one must learn to conduct hydraulic fracturing works in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, consists of pumping a water-sand mixture into underground rock layers to free the trapped oil or gas. Villagers are worried that the technique would affect the environment.
U.S. energy company Chevron has permits to explore for shale gas in three localities in Vaslui county (eastern Romania). In early October 2013, the company received authorization to drill its first well in Silistea. Works, which were to start immediately, were delayed by numerous protests (Adevarul)
Romania Still Hopes To List Hidroelectrica By End-June 2014
Romania’s Government is hoping hydropower producer Hidroelectrica will exit insolvency quickly in order to sell 15% in the company within the initial deadline set for the end of June 2014, according to the country’s latest letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.
The government informed the IMF that it sticks to the initial June deadline to finalize the sale proceedings.
The power company was placed under insolvency in late February, after the Bucharest Appellate Court cancelled a previous court decision allowing the Hidroelectrica to complete a 12-month reorganization process started in June 2012.
The Romanian authorities plan to sell 15% in the hydropower company and consider a dual listing, in Bucharest and in London. The initial public offering (IPO) was initially slated to take place by the end of June this year, but the operation could be postponed following Hidroelectrica’s insolvency. (Romania Libera)
PSD Executive President Thinks PM Ponta Ought To Run For President Of Romania
Liviu Dragnea, executive president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said he thinks Prime Minister Victor Ponta will have to run for president of Romania.
Dragnea added that Ponta, and nobody else within the party, will make a decision in this respect. (Jurnalul National)