You're reading: Bulgaria bans shale gas ‘fracking’

SOFIA, Bulgaria — The Bulgarian parliament has imposed a permanent ban on the exploration of shale oil and gas in the country using the extraction technique known as "fracking" following widespread public protests.

The ban was approved on Wednesday with a 166-6 vote, with 3 abstentions. It was proposed by the ruling center-right GERB party, and includes the use of hydraulic fracturing, as well as the extraction of shale gas, gas from coal, and of oil in Bulgaria and its Black Sea territorial waters.

Over the last weeks, thousands of people protested against shale gas extraction and the use of fracking, fearing it could have a hazardous impact on the environment and health.

On Tuesday, the government withdrew a shale gas exploration permit it granted last year to U.S. oil company Chevron.