Energy, Gas, Legislation, Lithuania

During the sitting of the Ministry of Environment, the decision was made to recommend the Government to give permission to company Chevron Exploration & Production Lietuva to use hydrocarbon resources in the territory of Silute-Taurage regions.

Minister of Environment Valentinas Mazuronis said that legally a decision of another kind could not be made, yet he added that the rules for shale gas exploration were tightened and Chevron would have to follow these rules.

Lithuania's Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said that there was no reason to not issue the license to the company Chevron Exploration & Production Lietuva to use hydrocarbon resources in the territory of Silute-Taurage regions and highlighted that this process was prolonged.

"We are waiting for the decision. I cannot see any obstacles and I think that this process is prolonged," said Butkevicius after the Cabinet's sitting on Monday.

The prime minister repeated himself and said that there was to be no discussion with the Zygaiciai community.

As reported, local communities are strongly against the shale gas exploration and extraction and have organized several rallies in Vilnius.