Committee on Environmental Policy, Use of Natural Resources and Chornobyl Aftermath Mitigation held hearing entitled: “Environmental problems of shale gas production in Ukraine”

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
24 May 2013, 13:13

The Committee Chairperson Iryna Sekh noted in her speech that since 2012 bodies of state power adopted a range of decisions regarding stale gas production in Ukraine. The Agreement on carbon (that will be mined in Yuzivka) distribution was signed the same year between the State of Ukraine and Shell Exploration and Production Ukraine Investments (IV) B.V. and Nadra Yuzivska LLC .

“Shale gas is very important energy resource among the alternative fuels. Meanwhile, production of shale gas in Ukraine may cause environmental problems that provoke protests among the community. In particular, it concerns environmental consequences of using the technology of hydraulic fracking and possible water contamination,” I.Sekh said.

People’s deputy, representatives of Government, foreign companies, scientists, leaders of public environmental organizations, local self-government of regions, where shale gas is planned to be mined, spoke during the hearing.     

The representatives of companies willing to produce shale gas in Ukraine spoke on safety of technologies used in the process of production. Meantime, the ecologists insisted on the ban on using hydraulic fracking technology for protection of people’s health and environment.  

As a result of the hearing, the Committee will sum up all proposals of the participants and elaborate the draft decision with recommendations re amendments to the current legislation, in order to protects interests of communities and environment.