Hydrofracking has not yet proven to be safe |
Bulgarian
lawmakers gave in to strong public pressure over environmental concerns and on
Wednesday banned shale gas exploration and production through
"fracking."
The
Bulgarian parliament has slapped a ban on shale gas exploration and production
through hydraulic fracturing or "fracking," a commonly used method
that uses high pressure injections of water, sand and chemicals to blast
through rock and release oil and gas trapped inside.
The
decision follows months of widespread protests from environmentalists across
the country. Critics say there is high risk of contaminating soil and drinking
water and of triggering earthquakes.
The
government had planned to start drilling for shale deposits in northeastern
Bulgaria as a way to decrease dependence on Russian natural gas deliveries.
Environmental
concerns
In a
special resolution, the parliament on Wednesday "banned the use of the
method of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil exploration on Bulgarian
territory and its Black Sea waters."
Violators
risk fines of 100 million leva (50 million euros, $64 million) and confiscation
of all equipment.
On Tuesday,
the government revoked a test shale gas exploration permit granted to US oil
giant Chevron, citing "the lack of sufficient assurances that the commonly
used shale gas drilling method of hydraulic fracturing can guarantee
environmental safety."
Environmentalists
welcomed the ban but said shale gas exploration by fracking should not only be
banned in a resolution but forbidden by law, as is the case in France.
Author: Dagmar Breitenbach (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Michael Lawton
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