Environmental Impact Study Before Decision on Adriatic Oil & Gas Exploration

No contracts with any companies concerning exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Adriatic Sea will be made without a comprehensive strategic environmental impact study, Croatia’s Environment and Nature Protection Minister Mihael Zmajlović stated on Wednesday…

The environmental impact study, which will analyse all risks involved in potential exploration and exploitation of oil and gas along more than 1,000km of Croatia’s coastline, is expected to be complete in March 2015, before a month-long public discussion will be held. The government has said that with Croatia so heavily reliant on tourism, the Tourism Ministry would be involved in every stage, and would take an active role in the strategic environmental impact study.

Earlier this month six companies had applied to explore 15 areas in the governments first tender, with the best offer expected to be selected by the end of the year. The tender consisted of 29 block areas, ranging from 1,000 – 1,600 square kilometres, eight in the northern part of the coast and 21 in central and southern Dalmatia. The successful bids are expected to be given 5-year concessions to explore, and 25-year concessions to exploit. The first exploitation contracts are expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2015.