EBU Lithuania shale gas

DOPESHEET Growing public awareness may delay Chevron's plans to extract shale gas reserves in Lithuania. Public discussions related to shale gas exploration and extraction are gaining its momentum. Lithuanian Academy of Sciences recently expressed a favor view of the development of shale gas exploration, but warned about a lack of necessary legislation which should ensure sustainability of environment. Parliamentary Committees on Environmental Protection and Economics have proposed to put on hold the tender for licenses to explore for shale gas in Western Lithuania until the adoption of necessary laws that will regulate the use of shale gas resources. The panels adopted this decision after hearing the scientists' findings at a joint. The committees will submit their conclusions to the government which will decide whether or not to give the green light to Chevron, which participated in the shale gas exploration tender. According to estimates by the National Geological Service, Lithuania could have 50 billion to 60 billion cubic meters of shale gas reserves. Lithuania consumes 3 billion gases every year, all of it being imported from Russia, therefore shale gas reserves might be equal to 20 years of energy independence. This is the main argument for supporters of shale gas, including the center-left government of Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius. Lithuania is already working to diversify its imports from Russia's Gazprom and agreed to build a floating liquefied natural-gas terminal on the Baltic Sea which could begin its operation in the Kaipeda port at the end of 2014. But activists from Western Lithuania where shale gas reserves are concentrated hold demonstrations in capital Vilnius against the government's plans to begin exploration. Protesters say shale gas production creates a significant environmental risk in the heavily forested areas close to the Baltic Sea. Chevron officials hope to begin exploration work this year, but growing public opposition may delay those plans. Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said he believes that the deal may be signed by May after the adoption of the required legislative by the Parliament. SHOTLIST Vs of shale gas extraction site in United States, Pennsylvania, filmed by Lithuanian television in 2013 March Soundbite (Lithuanian) VYTAUTAS BASYS, representative of Lithuanian Science Academy: These are huge quantities, so it might be dangerous that the material which is used for fracking later might arise to the top. So if we will not follow requirements during utilization, arising material might cause a change in environment which can be dangerous for people health as well. Vs of scientists meeting Soundbite (Lithuanian) ALGIRDAS BUTKEVICIUS, Lithuanian Prime Minister: If they analyzed what has to be done in the nearest future, what legislature has to be drafted, or what has to be adapted, so I think this job has to be done and some final results have to be reached. Cutaway Soundbite (Lithuanian) ANDRIUS KUBILIUS, leader of the opposition in Parliament: In my opinion this is an obvious politicking. And I think that in a way distrust was expressed in Minister of Environment Mazuronis who tried to look for rational solutions and offered to continue process. Vs of protest against shale gas near the government Soundbite (Lithuanian) protester: Documents identify exploration and extraction. If it identified only exploration, maybe it would be good, but here it is extraction as well. And we will not earn from that, we will get only 20 percent from what it would be sold. More of extraction site in Pennsylvania