Oil and gas company Chevron will suspend shale gas exploration in Pungesti village, Romania, until it can prove to citizens its methods are the best, Chevron manager Tom Holst said during a meeting in Washington with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

“Our top priority is to develop operations in a safe way for employees, subcontractors and community,” said Holst, quoted by local news agency Mediafax.

“At Pungesti, both we and the Government believe that the activity should be carried out safely, the work there has to be based on a long-term interrelation that can extend to over 30 years,” he added.

During a press conference organized in Washington, the Romanian Prime Minister said:

“The Government is determined to continue all unconventional gas explorations, as long as all environmental standards are met and respected”.

Oil company Chevron has taken a step back earlier this month and decided to suspend exploring for shale gas at Pungesti, in Romania’s Eastern region of Moldova, after the villagers in the region staged protests for several days in a row.

Some environmentalists argue the technique may contaminate ground water and even cause small earthquakes.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has started Monday (October 21) the official three-day visit in the US.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com