Greenpeace sues authorities, OMV Petrom and Romgaz for irregularities in the Neptun Deep project

Greenpeace is suing the authorities and the companies OMV Petrom and Romgaz for serious irregularities in the approval process of the Zonal Urban Plan dedicated to the gas exploitation project in the Neptun Deep perimeter, the representatives of the non-governmental organization announced on Wednesday.

Greenpeace claims that the Environmental Protection Agency (APM) Constanta issued the environmental notice in violation of the legal provisions.

“The approval for the project’s infrastructure on the shores of the Black Sea was issued without carrying out crucial studies for the correct assessment of the risks involved. APM Constanța granted the environmental approval without an adequate assessment study of the impact on the environment, without studies on the impact on the health of the population, bodies of water, climate change and without cross-border impact assessment, as required by national, union and international regulations”, informed Greenpeace.

According to the quoted source, the Neptun Deep project presents a series of notable risks, from the threat to vulnerable species in the Black Sea, to the intensification of the effects of climate change. Without authorities to correctly assess the consequences of such a project, biodiversity and ecosystems will be irreversibly affected, and extreme weather phenomena will intensify.

“The authorities must be held accountable for the irresponsible way in which they favorably approve projects with a destructive impact on people and the environment. The same authorities should protect the environment and the interests of citizens. Instead, they issue approvals negligently, in the interest of companies, without evaluating the impact on the health of the population and nature. We will pursue all avenues to ensure that such harmful projects as Neptun Deep will not affect people’s health and destroy precious marine ecosystems,” said Alin Tănase, campaign coordinator, Greenpeace Romania.