2012–14 Romanian protests against shale gas

2012–14 Romanian protests against shale gas
Part of 2012–14 unrest in Romania
Bârlad Vaslui Pungești Bucharest Vama Veche Sânmartin Cluj-Napoca Timișoara Sibiu Curtici Iași Piatra Neamț Alba Iulia Arad Oradea Brașov Codlea Buzău Călărași Mangalia Costinești Constanța Galați Târgu Neamț Slatina Suceava Buziaș Craiova Bistrița Reghin Moșna Location of protests
Date	21 March 2012–26 November 2014 (2 years, 8 months and 5 days)
Location	Dozens of cities in Romania and Romanian diaspora
Caused by	Exploitation of shale gas through hydraulic fracturing Installation of gas derricks in areas of exploitation Uncertain position of politicians on the project Police brutality
Goals	Banning shale drilling in Romania Resignation of Ponta Government
Methods	Protest march Human chain Occupation Revolt Civil resistance Roadblock Hunger strike Internet activism
Status	Ongoing
Concessions given	Dismissal of Ungureanu Government through a motion of censure Suspension of shale gas exploration in Pungești area Interruption of shale gas exploitation in Moșna-Alma Vii area Chevron's withdrawal from Romania
Parties to the civil conflict
Students Teachers Priests Environmentalists Activists Gendarmes Police officers
Number
Up to 50,000 30,000 in Bârlad 4,000 in Bucharest 1,500 in Curtici 1,000 in Pungești 1,000 in Sânmartin Up to 2,000
Casualties
Arrests: 53 Injuries: 17 Injuries: 1

External media

Images
Protests in Pungești on Flickr
Pungești, a special day on AFP
Video
Meeting in Bârlad. 8,700 people in the street against shale drilling on YouTube
Protest in Bârlad against shale drilling by U.S. company Chevron on YouTube
Great march of Bârlad on YouTube
April 4, 2013. Protest against shale gas extraction on YouTube

The 2012–14 Romanian protests against shale gas are an ongoing series of protests in major Romanian cities against exploitation of shale gas through controversial method of hydraulic fracturing. The main causes of these protests are the pollution of groundwater and environment, but also the threat of generating earthquakes. The protesters claim the resignation of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, because he suddenly changed his position on the project. Before the electoral campaign of 2012, he opposed shale drilling, and today he supports it with any risks, on the grounds that Romania's energy independence is a national project.

The protests began with peaceful movements against shale drilling organized on social networking websites. The protests degenerated in fierce clashes between law enforcers and demonstrators, with dozens of people injured on both sides. According to different sources, these are the most violent events in Romania since the 2012 anti-presidential protests.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that Romania has technically recoverable shale gas reserves (undiscovered, that could be accessed with existing technology) of 51,000 cubic feet, namely 1,444 billion cubic meters. According to the EIA report, Romania ranks third in EU shale gas reserves, after Poland (4,190 billion cubic meters) and France (3,879 billion cubic meters). This quantity could cover the national consumption of gas for 100 years.

A study by the Romanian National Committee of World Energy Council shows that Romania has a high potential for shale gas discoveries in the Eastern Carpathians, the Moldavian Platform, the Bârlad Plateau and the Romanian Plain, with its expansion of Southern Dobruja.

Ponta had numerous positions on shale gas exploitation. Before the 2012 legislative elections, he was a fervid opponent of shale gas. On 5 June 2012, he even received the "Young ecologist hope" prize during the 2012 Green Awards Gala that took place at Green Hours, Bucharest. After being confirmed as prime minister, he suddenly changed his position on shale drilling in Romania, stating in a TV show that "Now I'm fighting for shale gas, and I think I'm doing a good thing. I'm not anti-Russian [...], but I would like to stop importing from Gazprom". This change of heart of the Prime Minister sparked the indignation of environmentalists and activists. After that, many of his former supporters started to request his resignation.