Greenpeace Romania has filed a preliminary complaint with the Constanta Environmental Protection Agency requesting that the environmental permit for the Neptun Deep offshore gas project be cancelled.
The move comes as a result of APM Constanta’s decision to release the permit despite issues highlighted by Greenpeace.
In its statements of public opposition, Greenpeace cited the absence of an adequate assessment of the long-term impact on water resources, the lack of an adequate assessment of the impact on the climate, the absence of a risk analysis amid the ongoing war in the neighboring area, the absence of a geological survey, and the absence of public consultations regarding afferent risks.
“This project will keep Romania stuck in the era of fossil fuels and will further accelerate the already highly impacting climate crisis effects. The heat waves we have experienced in the past weeks will be increasingly intense”, declared Vlad Catuna, coordinator of the Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaign.
Greenpeace Romania has sued companies OMV Petrom and Romgaz, the Tuzla City Hall and Local Council, the Dobrogea Seaside Watershed Administration and the Grigore Antipa National Institute for Marine Development and Research for irregularities in the approval processes and lack of transparency over crucial data regarding the toxic substances that will be discharged into the Black Sea, reports Agerpres.
However, the four-billion dollar project represents not only a significant financial investment, but also promises to be a geopolitical gamechanger for Romania, as the largest natural gas project in Romania’s share of the Black Sea – which would give Romania gas autonomy, something particularly important in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The war between Greenpeace and the Romanian government on Neptun Deep
