Specialistii romani iau atitudine in problema gazelor de sistRomanian Experts Take a Stand About the Shale Gas

Dezbatuta pe toate fetele, problema exploatarii de catre companii straine a rezervelor neconventionale de gaze din Romania (asa zisele gaze de sist), revine in actualitate, mai ales ca la Pungesti populatia continua sa blocheze operatiunile de explorare ale Chevron. Exact ca in cazul Rosia Montana, exploatarea gazelor de sist divide societatea romaneasca intre cei care nu sustin sub nici o forma exploatarea, cei care ar fi de acord cu conditia ca firmele romanesti sa fie implicate in operatiuni si cei care sustin neconditionat procedeul fracturarii hidraulice.

Din pacate, specialistii romani, singurii care pot face lumina in aceasta controversata afacere nu prea sunt ascultati de nimeni, in ciuda faptului ca tara noastra dispune inca de institute si oameni bine pregatiti, dar mai ales de faptul ca  Romania este printre primele tari europene care au trecut la exploatarea rezervelor de gaze naturale de tip clasic, unde metoda fracturarii este utilizata fara nici o retinere. Problema epuizarii rezervelor de tip clasic, a dependentei tot mai mare de gazele de import este de asemenea ignorata, desi se vorbeste mai insistent ca niciodata despre independenta si securitate energetica.

In Europa, tara noastra s-ar afla undeva pe locul trei din punct de vedere a rezervelor estimate de gaze neconventionale, dupa Polonia si Franta. Polonezii au demarat primele studii si au inceput explorarea rezervelor de gaze in urma cu circa 7-8 ani si de abia acuma au anuntat trecerea la faza de exploatare. Cel putin tot atata timp ar trebui si Romaniei pana sa treaca la exploatarea gazelor de sist, in cazul in care autoritatile se vor decide sa nu mai “traga mata de coada”.

Data fiind importanta capitala pentru economia romaneasca a acestor resurse de gaze neconventionale, Energy-Center si-a propus sa dea cuvantul exclusiv specialistilor in aceasta problema , care au elaborata deja studii aprofundate, reunite intr-un Raport de peste 300 de pagini sub egida “Centrului de excelenta in domeniul gazelor naturale din argile gazeifere”. Vom publica principalele date ale Raportului incepand cu numarul nostru viitor.Thoroughly debated, the exploitation of unconventional gas reserves (shale gas) of Romania by foreign companies is becoming actual again, especially as people of Pungesti keep blocking Chevron’s explorations. Exactly like in the case of [gold extraction at] Rosia Montana, the exploitation of shale gas divides the Romanian society in opponents, conditional supporters who demand a participation of Romanian companies, and unconditional supporters of fracking.

Unfortunately, the Romanian experts – the only who could elucidate this controversial issue – are not considered by pretty much anybody, despite the fact that Romania still has research institutes and well-informed people, and especially that it is among the first European countries to have exploited conventional gas fields, where fracking is used without reservations. The matter of the depletion of classic deposits, of increased dependency upon imported gas is also ignored, though the energy independence and safety are mentioned more frequently than ever.

In Europe, Romania is said to be around the third place in terms of estimated reserves of unconventional gas, outweighed only by Poland and France. The Polish have already started studies and began exploiting gas deposits some 7-8 years ago, and only recently they announced the beginning of the exploitation phase. Romania would need at least that much until the launching of exploitation of shale gas, if the rulers stop procrastinating.

As these unconventional gas resources are vital for Romania’s economy, Energy-Center intends to listen only to the experts in this field, authors of in-depth studies gathered into a Report of more than 300 pages, under the patronage of the European Centre for Excellence in Natural Gas from Shale Gas. Starting with our next issue, we will publish the core data of this Report.