Bulgarian lawmakers slapped a ban Wednesday on shale gas exploration and production, bowing to strong public pressure over environmental concerns.
Bulgarian lawmakers slapped a ban Wednesday on shale gas exploration and
production, bowing to strong public pressure over environmental concerns.
In a special resolution, the parliament "banned the use of the method of
hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil exploration on Bulgarian territory
and its
Black Sea
waters."
It also specifically banned "shale gas exploration using the above mentioned
method."
Violators risked fines of 100 million leva (EUR50 million, $65 million) and
confiscation of all equipment, according to the resolution which was backed by
169 deputies of the 175 who cast votes.
Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking', uses high pressure injections of water,
sand and chemicals to blast through rock and release oil and gas trapped
inside.
But although popular in the
U.S.
,
opponents warn of the environmental impact, insisting there is high risk of
contaminating the land and drinking water and of triggering earthquakes.
Wednesday's ban was a U-turn on the previous government's plans to start
drilling for shale deposits in northeastern
Bulgaria
as a
way to wean the country off its total dependence on Russian natural gas
deliveries, and followed vehement protests from environmentalists across the
country in recent months.
On Tuesday, the government revoked a five-year test drilling permit granted
last year to
U.S.
oil
giant Chevron Corp (CVX) citing "the lack of sufficient assurances that
the commonly used shale gas drilling method of hydraulic fracturing can
guarantee environmental safety."
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov meanwhile cited public pressure as the reason for
backing off plans to develop shale gas, after anti-'fracking' rallies in
Sofia
and
other major cities drew thousands of people last weekend.
Environmentalists welcomed the ban Wednesday but insisted that shale gas
exploration by 'fracking' should not only be banned in a resolution but
forbidden by law, as is the case in
France
.
"A quickly adopted resolution can be cancelled just as quickly,"
Mariana Hristova from the Fracking Free Bulgaria group told AFP.
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