Romanian villagers continue on-site protest against Chevron's shale gas exploration while thousands take to the streets of Bucharest

Shale gas exploration by energy giant Chevron has sparked more protests in Romania, following several weeks of anti-gold mining and anti-cyanide street demonstrations across the country. First off, villagers from Pungesti, in the Romanian county of Vaslui managed to stop the oil and gas company from drilling in their village by blocking a vehicle convoy. Today (Thursday, October 16) the group, numbering a few hundred, managed to force Chevron to remove its equipment from the site by forming a human chain around it overnight. Around 200 people stayed over the night, accompanied by NGO representatives from Bacău, Vaslui, and Bârlad and equipped with food, warm clothes and tents. The villagers staged the demonstration on a field where the US energy giant intents to drill its first exploration well. Meanwhile, around 2,000 people took to the streets of Bucharest again on Wednesday evening, continuing the long row of environmental protests. This time however they protested against the exploration for shale gas - also called fracking – and blocked traffic on the Nicolae Balcescu boulevard, then went to the Victoriei Square. A few protesters started a fight with the gendarmes, making it the most violent protest in Bucharest since the beginning of September, when the series of peaceful street protest started. Fracking projects have sparked protests around the world with controversy over the impact of the technique, which is used to drill for shale gas and oil. Hydraulic fraction or “fracking” pumps water and chemicals at high pressure into deep rock formations to create fractures and free oil and gas. Environmentalists argue the technique may contaminate ground water and even cause small earthquakes. Chevron has permits to prospect in three villages in this part of eastern Romania, and to explore for shale gas on Romania's Black Sea coast. The company maintains that all its activities have been in compliance with Romanian and EU laws and industry standards. editor@romania-insider.com