Greenpeace activists from 7 countries stage protest at site of Chevron exploratory shale gas well in Pungesti

A group of Greenpeace activists from seven countries on Monday staged a protest in Pungesti, at the site of the exploratory shale gas well owned by U.S. company Chevron, pressing for a ban on hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction, reads a release of the environmental organization sent to AGERPRES on Monday.

The 25 Greenpeace activists from Romania, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Germany staged a peaceful protest and declared a quarantine zone around the Chevron well.

They also formed a human chain at the entry into the Chevron perimeter, they chained themselves to the fence surrounding the well and held up banners with the messages: "Pungesti — Anti-Chevron Quarantine Area", "NO to Hydraulic Fracturing", "Stop Abuse in Pungesti!"

In April this year, Chevron installed its first shale gas exploratory well and according to Greenpeace, it plans to install other wells in the neighboring villages. The U.S. company obtained the environmental permits for the following sites: Paltinis (Bacesti), Silistea (Pungesti), Popeni (Gagesti) and Puiesti; for the latter the Vaslui County Council has also issued the relevant building permit.

So far, 11 local councils in the County of Vaslui (Alexandru Vlahuta, Bacani, Coroiesti, Dumesti, Gherghesti, Pochidia, Perieni, Pogana, Puiesti, Tutova and Vinderei) adopted decisions banning shale gas exploration and exploitation.

Chevron Romania also received three exploration, development and exploitation farm-out agreements for blocks in Adamclisi, Costinesti and Vama Veche, located in Constanta County.

Greenpeace CEE Romania, alongside other non-governmental organizations, challenged in court Chevron's four exploration / development ...