Romanian prime minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu met representatives of oil and gas company Chevron in Bucharest yesterday (March 6) to discuss a potential start of drilling for unconventional gas in Romania. Chevron, the second largest oil and gas company in the US, has been recently canceled a license for exploring shale gas in neighboring Bulgaria on environmental issues.

The American ambassador to Bucharest Mark Gitenstein also attended the meeting in Bucharest, according to Mediafax newswire, quoting official sources.

At the same time, in front of the Economy Ministry in Bucharest, people were protesting against the use of shale gas, an unconventional gas resource.

Chevron has won the right to explore a perimeter in Barlad county, and area which is known for its shale gas resources. Last year, Chevron's director for Romania Thomas Holst said the copmpany would start drilling for unconventional gas in 2012 in Romania.

Hungarian MOL and Canadian Sterling have also showed interest in searching for shale gas in Romania.

Shale gas is natural gas formed from being trapped within shale formations. It has become an important source of gas in the US, but environmentalists say shale gas might aggravate global warming, as it emits larger amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, than does conventional gas, even though less than coal.

Bulgaria canceled Chevron's exploitation license for shale gas as it prepares to forbid drilling for such gas on environmental concerns.

editor@romania-insider.com