Chevron has exploration rights for three blocks of 670,000 acres near the Black Sea, and has also bought the concession close to Barlad for an undisclosed amount with plans to extract gas using hydraulic fracturing. |
Chevron closed its operations in Romania in 2015, due to the public pressure but also because of the international context (low oil prices)
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Chevron Shale Gas, Romania |
| Country: | Romania |
| State or province: | Vaslui County |
| Location of conflict: | Barlad |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Shale gas fracking |
| Specific commodities: | Natural Gas |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | In Romania, Chevron owns rights to exploration and exploitation of gas in Barlad and three areas in Constanta county – Vama Veche, Adamclisi and Costinesti – for which Chevron received concession agreements in March 2012. According to the company, the three onshore blocks cover some 2,700 sq km. |
| Project area: | 630000 |
| Type of population | Urban |
| Start of the conflict: | 02/2011 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Chevron Polska Energy Resources Sp. z o.o. from United States of America |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers International ejos Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Local scientists/professionals Religious groups |
| Forms of mobilization: | Objections to the EIA Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches 0 |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Global warming, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Militarization and increased police presence, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Repression Strengthening of participation Moratoria |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | At the moment it seems the government is fully supporting the exploration despite local protests. Chevron however closed its operations in Romania in 2015,due to the public pressure but also because of the international context ( oil low prices) they decided it's not profitable to extract shale gas in Romania. |
Sources & Materials
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Leah Temper |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 377 |
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