More than 100 people protested on Sunday (April 6) against shale gas extraction through hydraulic fraction or “fracking”, and requested authorities ban the method.

The protesters gathered in the Universitate Square in Bucharest, carrying flags and signs saying “Art, life and nature. Not poison and fracture” or “Clean waters, not polluted”.

According to representatives of the Gendarmerie quoted by local Mediafax, the protesters were authorized to stay in Universitate Square until 21:00.

The protest was organized by several NGOs. The protesters asked the method of fracking to be banned by law in the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons, including shale gas.

Several other protests against shale gas exploration were organized in Romania last year. The protests were triggered by concerns that exploration would be harmful to the environment, and coincided with protests against gold mining in Central Romania, at Rosia Montana, where the planned used of cyanide also caused concern.

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

(photo source: uniti salvam on facebook)