Chevron Resumes Shale Gas Exploration Work in Romania despite Protests

Romanian environment activists shouts anti-government slogans while sitting on the pavement after occupying the Triumph Arch Square during a demonstration, in Bucharest, Romania, against drilling for shale gas using the technique known as hydraulic fractu

US oil and gas company Chevron announced Sunday that it is resuming operations on its first shale gas exploration well in Romania despite the mass protests against the project.

Chevron made clear that it was restarting its activity on the site near the village of Pungesti, northeastern Romania after a temporary halt caused by mass protests on Saturday.

The area around the site was declared a "special security zone", with gendarmerie forces deployed around the village, according to Romanian media outlets.

On Saturday, thousands of Romanians staged a protest, trying to prevent Chevron from drilling its first exploration well in the country.

During the rally, which turned violent as demonstrators started began throwing stones at vehicles of Chevron and tearing down the fence surrounding the exploration site, around 20 people were arrested, and some of them were fined.

For the second time since October, Chevron was forced to suspend operations on Saturday.

Locals oppose shale gas drilling through the controversial technology of hydraulic fracturing over fears of environmental pollution.

Hydraulic fracturing has been banned in France and Bulgaria over concerns over the environmental impact of the technology.

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