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Anti-fracking
clashes in Romania as activists break into Chevron site
Hundreds
of protesters have broken into a Chevron site after the US oil giant
resumed its search for shale gas in northeast Romania. RT’s Lucy
Kafanov reports from the scene, where clashes ensued as riot police
started streaming in.
RT,
7
December, 2013
Some
250 people gathered on Saturday in the village of Pungesti. RT’s
Lucy Kafanov reports that the demonstration kicked off quite
peacefully with the protesters chanting “Chevron go home.”
“The
situation then escalated. Some people had run across the road towards
the Chevron property, there was a bit of a commotion, and we saw the
protesters run into the property; the surrounding perimeter fences
were taken down," Kafanov reports. Local media said people were
able to tear down fences to 20 acres of land owned by the company.
Riot police officers were called into the area, which made the situation "very heated" as clashes between the demonstrators and the police ensued.
"We
did see some demonstrators injured, as well as police officers
injured. They were taken away in medical vans. We also saw probably
about four or five arrests, possibly more, we’re still not
confirmed on the numbers," Kafanov says.
Following
the incident, the US company later announced it was suspending
activities in the area. “Chevron confirms the suspension today…due
to the activities of protesters,” Chevron said in a statement.
The
US energy giant has been persistent in conducting its shale gas
exploration activities, and less than a week ago, riot police
brutally removed a horde of villagers who had been camping out at the
site protesting the company’s plan.
The
site in Pungesti has been the subject of ongoing controversy. The
village is believed to be sitting upon vast reserves of the natural
resource. Romania may hold 51 trillion cubic feet of shale gas,
according to the US Energy Information Administration.
The
demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Victor
Ponta, according to AFP. Ponta became a strong supporter of the
energy source, despite apparent opposition prior to his election.
But
protesters and environmentalists fear that the hydraulic fracturing,
or “fracking,” would be disastrous for the local environment.
They say that pumping water and chemicals at high pressure into deep
rock formations to free oil or gas could contaminate groundwater.
In October, Chevron decided to suspend its drilling plans. To prevent Chevron from resuming the drilling, Pungesti villagers set up a camp in a privately-owned field next to the site where the well was planned to be installed.
The
camp has been the scene of demonstrations for over a month and a half
in total, with thousands rallying across the country in recent
months. Pungesti clashes took place between police officers and
protesters only the previous week. Outraged participants were as old
as 67, according to Kafanov. "There is this very tense climate,
and people have a lot of anger…for what’s going on here,"
said Kafanov.
Last
month, Chevron filed a civil lawsuit against protesters in Poland who
prevented the company from reaching one of its designated fracking
sites. The company stated that the protesters had been violating its
lawful right of access to one of its four shale gas exploration areas
in the country.
Protests
haven't just been confined to Europe - opposition is spread globally.
“The whole industry working on ifs – no definite figures for what
gas is down there, there’s no definite promises about any safety
procedures – the whole industry’s just shrouded in too many ifs
and buts, and that’s really what motivates the protesters across
the world ,” anti-fracking campaigner, Andy Chyba, told RT.
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