The Minister of Environment Rovana Plumb argues that shale gas exploration in Romania poses no risk because it is done the same as in conventional gas exploration, and not by hydraulic fracturing, adding that she has given her consent to begin explorations in the Dobrogea area.
"Any investment must comply with all the rules and regulations regarding environmental protection. Regarding the shale gas exploration in Romania, as long as they do not use the hydraulic fracturing method, in terms of environmental protection there is no risk. Therefore, both for Dobrogea area and for other areas for which foreign companies have required licenses to prospect and explore, from the point of view of the environmental protection, the consent can be given as there is no risk. , " Rovana Plumb said Monday in a press conference in Constanta, Mediafax reports.
She also said that shale gas exploration takes about five years and thereafter technologies less risky for the environment may appear.
"Shale gas exploration takes about five years, technologies less risky in terms of the environment may appear in the meantime, which of course we can use. But for this exploration period of five years, in terms of environmental protection, I can earnestly assure you that there is no risk since hydraulic fracturing technologies are not used but only technology customarily used in conventional gas exploration, "the environment Minister said.
Rovana Plumb said that in order to see whether our country has got shale gas the exploration should be carried out at this stage.
To reach operational exploitation we need to see if we have this resource and where we have it. Or without exploration we cannot identify that. For now, we are in the exploration phase, " the Environment Minister said.
Constanta Mayor Radu Mazăre, who attended the press conference, said that if the Americans exploit shale gas, then it might be useful for our country to do the same.
He added that Europeans have sneered when exploring shale gas and now they are facing economic recess.
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"Europeans have screeched, they sneered and now they run from one crisis to another, from country to country and from social unrest to social unrest. Unemployment in Spain has reached 27 percent, with 55 percent among young people. In America things are different . So if they have been using this for ten years I do not see why we should not ... you know how it is, mangy goat's tail up in the air, " Radu mazare said.