Bulgaria's Shumen Stages Anti-Shale Gas Protest

Over 100 people rallied in the Northeastern Bulgarian city of Shumen against the potential exploration of shale gas in the region.

The protesters demanded that the hydraulic fracturing technology used in shale gas exploration be abolished, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency has informed.

"Shumen chose to have clean water, Shumen has healthy children," the protesters chanted as they passed through the city's downtown. Citizens from the nearby cities of Varna and Dobrich also took part in the rally.

In a letter addressed to the local authorities and the government, the protesters requested a ban on shale gas research and exploration in Bulgaria.

Since December, more than 1500 Shumen citizen have signed their names in a petition demanding a ban on shale gas exploration.

In December, it was made clear that US energy giants Chevron will start its exploratory drillings for shale gas in Bulgaria in 2015 if the country does not have moratorium in place abolishing shale gas exploration on its territory by then.

Bulgarian environmentalists are concerned that the potential shale gas exploration using hydraulic fracturing in Northeastern Bulgaria may cause irreversible damage to its nature.

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