advertisement
Sat, May 26 2012
No shale gas for Bulgaria – we want gas from Russia
While cities across Bulgaria face protests against the development of independent energy supplies from shale gas, gas prices in the US have plummeted as a consequence of widespread shale gas development. While Bulgaria produces less than 10 per cent of its gas requirements, gas import terminals in the US are idle and being converted into gas export facilities, expected to come on-stream in 2015. While the US could become independent of energy imports from the Middle East, Bulgarian activists seek to ensure Bulgarian reliance on "gas from the east" at prices far higher than in the US.
Here in Europe there is growing opposition to shale gas. But how much of this is based on good science and how much on politics? Take a look at France. The Paris and Southern Basins host thick organic rich sequences which could potentially make the country independent of energy imports. Oops, France relies far more heavily on nuclear – a whopping 40 per cent than on gas at 14 per cent. France has a huge international nuclear industry and shale gas has the potential to damage that market.
In the United Kingdom, a somewhat wealthier country than Bulgaria with significant oil and gas resources and a population density four times that of Bulgaria, a number of shale gas initiatives are progressing. The head of science at the highly respected British Geological Survey recently commented "If you ask a geologist what they think the chance of shale gas methane, which is found two to three km underground, getting up into water wells, which are typically only 30–40m deep, they would say it’s pretty unlikely".
Why would this be so, because there is a layer of very dense, impermeable rock in between the shale and water wells. At the same event Peter Styles, professor of applied physics and environmental geophysics at Keele University said that the substances used in fracking were common to kitchen products like washing-up liquid.
Shale gas offers Bulgaria the opportunity for energy independence and highly skilled and highly paid jobs. Indeed the creation of a significant industry here.
Who are those protesting against shale gas? What is their benefit? Are these the same people who protested against global warming, gold mining or the Hilton Hotel development? Do Bulgarians wish to forgo the benefits of a responsibly developed shale gas industry and energy independence – I do not believe so.
John C Menzies
Cmi Capital Limited
the.chairman@cmi-capital.com
Here in Europe there is growing opposition to shale gas. But how much of this is based on good science and how much on politics? Take a look at France. The Paris and Southern Basins host thick organic rich sequences which could potentially make the country independent of energy imports. Oops, France relies far more heavily on nuclear – a whopping 40 per cent than on gas at 14 per cent. France has a huge international nuclear industry and shale gas has the potential to damage that market.
In the United Kingdom, a somewhat wealthier country than Bulgaria with significant oil and gas resources and a population density four times that of Bulgaria, a number of shale gas initiatives are progressing. The head of science at the highly respected British Geological Survey recently commented "If you ask a geologist what they think the chance of shale gas methane, which is found two to three km underground, getting up into water wells, which are typically only 30–40m deep, they would say it’s pretty unlikely".
Why would this be so, because there is a layer of very dense, impermeable rock in between the shale and water wells. At the same event Peter Styles, professor of applied physics and environmental geophysics at Keele University said that the substances used in fracking were common to kitchen products like washing-up liquid.
Shale gas offers Bulgaria the opportunity for energy independence and highly skilled and highly paid jobs. Indeed the creation of a significant industry here.
Who are those protesting against shale gas? What is their benefit? Are these the same people who protested against global warming, gold mining or the Hilton Hotel development? Do Bulgarians wish to forgo the benefits of a responsibly developed shale gas industry and energy independence – I do not believe so.
John C Menzies
Cmi Capital Limited
the.chairman@cmi-capital.com
-
Print
-
Send via email
- Translate to
-
Share:
Comments
To post comments, please, Login or Register.
Please read the The Sofia Echo forum comments policy.
More in this category
United Kingdom to see shale gas benefits
This measured approach is in stark contrast to the populist ban imposed after protests in France and Bulgaria.
Launch of new press freedom websites
SEEMO's country-specific websites are designed for specialists and a public at large interested in acquiring updated and in-depth knowledge of media issues and press freedom.
Turkish newspaper’s Europe offices attacked
The International Press Institute condemns attacks on the offices of Turkish-language newspaper Zaman in Paris and in the German city of Cologne, allegedly carried out by supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Turkish-language publications in Greece court case
he excessive fines against Turkish-language weeklies could imply their closure and even imprisonment for their journalists.
Slovak court cages Gorilla File
The scandal caused by the Gorilla file – reportedly named by an unknown SIS analyst – has rocked Slovakia for weeks.
© 2000-2012, Sofia Echo Media Ltd.
Web Design by RIZN
Sofia Echo Media is part of the Economedia Group.
The news and information content on this website is provided by our editorial team and is copyrighted.
Any unauthorised reproduction or use of it is strictly forbidden. Reproduction of this website's content is permitted only
with prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief, should be propertly acredited and provide an active link back to our site.
Comments posted by the website's visitors are independent of the editorial materials and do not represent the views of sofiaecho.com.
Sofia Echo Media cannot be held responsible for the statements contained in visitor comments.
The percentаge change in the shares' prices are based on the price of the last transaction of the current session compared to the
price of the last transaction of the previous session. Bulgarian Stock Exchange data is not real-time, but updated every 15 minutes,
and should not be used as a basis for decisions about buying or selling stock options.
- Economedia Group portfolio:
- In Bulgarian:
-
Business:
Капитал,
Кариери,
Пазари,
Ho Re Mag,
Регал,
Градът.bg,
Одит,
Foton.bg,
Online shop
- News: Дневник, Европа, Foreign Policy - България
- IT: IDG.BG, Computerworld, PC World, CIO, Networkworld
- Entertainment: Бакхус
-
In English:
The Sofia Echo
How many Empires and Wars did it take for Bulgaria to realize it did not have enough Gas of its own, to support Innovation ?
Dear anonymous, I am indeed entirely neutral and have no vested interest whatsoever. I have no commerical interest in shale gas in Bulgaria. I do however have a very keen interest in a dynamic Bulgarian economy unshackled from very expensive gas from the east.
The Lloyds Bank article. Now let me see - Lloyds is a Bank the article is not a detailed report but a journalistic compilation of the thoughts of others. I place a whole lot more faith in the recent comments of the British Geological survey as an example.
Hey Dianne. Attacking my article as badly written - good start. How about adding some additional character assasination seems like that would suit your style. What precisely have you written of late.
What have you done to increase the Bulgarian tax base, employ Bulgarians and contribute to Bulgarian society in any meaningful manner. I keenly await your response.
Despite what the lefties and eco-loons would have you believe, shale extraction is not intrinsically polluting, but carries a risk of pollution - much like a lot of industrial and commercial activity in fact.
Careful and successful operations would undoubtedly mean a massive and welcome boost to Bulgaria's precarious economy.
Yet as so often, Bulgaria backs the wrong horse. But there's always Lukoil, eh, Boyko?
Lloyds.com, the website of the British insurance market (who I don't think anyone can accuse of being anti-business), is currently running an excellent article on the environmental damage and dangers of shale gas.
The system on Sofia Echo won't let me link directly but do a Google search for Lloyds.com and "SHALE GAS: ENERGY SAVIOUR OR ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER?" and you can read for yourself.
As the conclusion points out the energy future is not in scrabbling the very last of dirty energy from the earth but in focusing on renewables, as Germany [...]
Read the full comment is doing in it's post-nuclear situation.
We might turn Mr Menzies question around and ask what is in it for his company? His letter shows no signs of interest in the Bulgarian or global environment. He is no neutral observer unlike the scientists cited by Lloyds.com.
Martine. Yes, the Gas is clean, but the extraction process and the damages it causes to the environment, the water supply, and the people is not worth it. Do a google search on Fracking Toxic Chemicals and see the millions of gallons of cancer causing chemicals which are blasted into the water table. Would you want this in your Village and drinking water ????
Please Please tell me how the Bulgarian people will benefit from an irresponsibly developed shale gas industry ?
the company extracting will want high profits.
The gas suppliers will want high profits
The shareholders will want high profits
The government will want high profits.
The price of gas WILL not go down with BG shale gas, everyone involved in the production will just make a shed load more profit. What the people of Bulgaria WILL get, is a polluted environment, [...]
Read the full comment poisoned water supplies, more cancers, and rising gas. BARGAIN !
Everybody has to get their energy
from somewhere. Personally I would
prefer to get it from shale gas than from wind farms. I don't think so
called environmental options always
provide enough energy, and they are not very attractive/can blow up or
have to be switched off during very
high winds/lose arms etc. I think
Bulgaria may be missing an opportunity. Gas is one of the cleanest energies.
An article written by someone who works in the Mining industry carries as much clout as a wet lettuce. Your article is biased, one sided, badly written and to be honest shows your corporate responsibility to be as bad as the article. Money Money Money and don't worry about peoples health or the environment. Shame on you.
I do agree. Shale gas could free Bulgaria from the need to import Russian gas. I hear that the real issue is competition from Bulgarian companies backed by Russian interests who want to control the gas market in Bulgaria. Am I just paranoid would the Russians do such a thing?