As the debate over the environmental safety of a drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing—or “fracking”—intensifies in the United States, a European country is forbidding one of America’s largest oil companies from using the technique. Bowing to public pressure, Bulgaria’s government says Chevron cannot explore for shale gas there using fracking. Energy Minister Traicho Traikov says today’s decision still allows Chevron to test for oil and gas, “but without using the controversial technology of hydraulic fracturing.” The decision still needs approval by Bulgaria’s Parliament on Wednesday. Bulgaria awarded the contract in June. It has said Chevron would prepare a five-year project worth $72 million in the eastern European country, and invest an additional $5.8 million on environment protection. Read more from The Sofia (Bulgaria) Echo here.
Bulgaria says Chevron can’t frack
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