Bulgaria Pledges Risk Assessment for Shale Gas
Bulgarian Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traicho Traikov has said that the government plans a thorough assessment of risks involved with shale gas.
Conceded that shale gas prospecting carried implies risks, Traikov said the aim of the assessment was to ensure that shale gas activities were conducted in a manner to keep the dangers to a minimum level.
The issue of shale gas development in Bulgarian has seen increasing attention since July, when Chevron Corp., won a tender to explore a concession near Novi Pazar in northeastern of the country.
Bulgaria's ambitious plans to develop shale gas production, billed as a way to reduce dependency on Russian supplies, cut energy costs and even generate profit for the EU's poorest nation, has spurred heated debate about its possible environmental impacts. Minister Traykov has said that 1 trillion (1,000 billion) cubic metres of gas could be found in Bulgaria, which would cover the country’s consumption for 300 years.
Worries about the environmental impact of the hydraulic fracturing process saw protestors take to the streets of Sofia to request a ban on shale gas exploration in the country. Saturday’s demonstration in the capital city followed earlier protests in northeastern city Dobrich, as well as the Black Sea city of Varna.
While senior Bulgarian government officials have attempted to convince the public that all due environmental precautions will be taken in the exploration for shale gas in the country, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov fueled opposition with ill timed comments, saying that he would sign a contract allowing for shale gas production unless protestors stopped "nagging him”.
"Nothing will happen if you stop irritating me. About those holding the signs, I wish to tell that they are enticed by a particular political party. If this keeps going on, we will sign the contract just out of sheer stubbornness," Borisov said, referring to protestors in Dobrich.
The shale gas debate has also been featured in the upcoming Presidential election to be held on October 23rd.
The presidential candidate of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party has said he would initiate a national referendum on shale gas drilling and production in Bulgaria.
“There is no reason that can justify the use of technologies dangerous to people’s health and life. Bulgaria’s energy dependence should not be guaranteed with the use of such technologies, which are a threat to environment and citizens", said Ivaylo Kalfin.
The third candidate, Meglena Kuneva, a former Bulgarian EU Commissioner and a self-proclaimed "non-partisan" presidential bidder, has also declared she is against the potential shale gas exploration.
Recent polls have shown that Rosen Plevneliev, candidate of the ruling centrist-right, is comfortably ahead three weeks before voting day.