Energy, Gas, Legislation, Lithuania, USA

lgirdas Butkevicius at the meeting with the representative of the U.S. company Chevron. Photo: lrv.lt

"Detailed information was provided about what has been done in cooperation with communities, their meetings, pictures were presented. In some districts the cooperation involves mayors of towns and it is expected that this work will further be carried out with success," said Butkevicius.

The position of the prime minister was supported by Gilbert Ankenbauer, CEO of Chevron Exploration & Production Lietuva, Chevron's Lithuanian subsidiary. According to Ankenbauer, cooperation with local communities is the practice followed in the whole world.

"We have assured the prime minister once again of our determination to continue working with the local communities in those territories where the exploration is being carried out. This is the way we work in the whole world and Lithuania is not an exception," said the representative of Chevron.

As reported, in the middle of June, Lithuanian oil and gas exploration company LL Investicijos, whose 50% stake belongs to the U.S. oil company Chevron, announced that it was planning to begin soon exploratory drilling by Stempliai village in the district of Silute.

Local communities are strongly against the shale gas exploration and extraction plans and have organized few rallies in Vilnius.