Shale Gas in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. Political Context – Legal Status – Outlook
Shale Gas in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania. Political Context – Legal Status – Outlook

Author(s): Tomasz Dąborowski, Jakub Groszkowski
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Economy, Energy and Environmental Studies, Economic policy, Environmental and Energy policy
Published by: OSW Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia
Keywords: shale gas; energy security;
Summary/Abstract: Over the past twelve months Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania have made a U-turn in their approach to shale gas exploration and production. Until the end of 2011, the governments of these countries showed a positive (Bulgaria) or neutral (Romania, the Czech Republic) attitude both to prospecting for domestic deposits and the potential production of shale gas, which resulted in licenses being granted to companies specialising in the field. (Compared to Poland, however, the number of licences awarded in these three countries was negligible. Romania issued most but even there the total number did not exceed ten). A wave of criticism from local society and environmentalists – often backed by interest groups – contributed to a shift in the position the countries’ governments took on the issue. In early January 2012, Bulgaria introduced a complete ban on shale gas prospecting and production, while the new Romanian government announced a moratorium on all prospecting work in May and plans to extend it for a period of two years if it wins the December election. A similar moratorium is currently being prepared also by the Czech government.

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