Greenpeace protesting at the Neptun Deep construction site

Tuzla, 22.09.2024 

Greenpeace Romania activists are protesting at the Neptun Deep construction site at the end of the Tuzla-Podișor pipeline. While the country has not yet recovered from the devastating floods, the authorities and the government are giving their consent to a huge gas project that would further accelerate climate change with horrible consequences. Greenpeace Romania is demanding an immediate halt to the project of gas extraction from the Black Sea, given the multiple risks and problems it poses.

At the end of the Tuzla-Podișor gas pipeline, on the construction site of the Tuzla gas measurement and regulation station, Greenpeace Romania activists are protesting against the Neptun Deep project and demanding a complete stop of the development works. 

Greenpeace Romania finds it utterly appalling that the Tuzla-Podișor pipeline, which would carry the gas from the Black Sea shore town Tuzla to the gas terminal near Bucharest, is being installed before the Neptun Deep project has obtained all the necessary permits. This raises serious questions about the independence and validity of the approval process. The environmental organisation claims that the authorities rushed the project through without properly assessing what environmental impact the Neptun Deep project would have.

"Even if Neptun Deep has not received all the necessary permits to start the project, we see the onshore facilities and the Tuzla - Podișor gas pipeline being built at a fast pace. While the only thing we know about the project is that it would pollute the environment, threaten biodiversity, exacerbate the climate crisis and extreme weather events and delay the energy transition. The irremediable destruction of the Black Sea begins here at this pipeline. We are here to represent all Romanian people  and raise yet another alarm over this toxic project, which would not only lock us in the era of fossil fuels, but would also jeopardize the environment and our health" said Alin Tănase, Campaigns Coordinator at Greenpeace Romania. 

The offshore infrastructure of the Neptun Deep project affects 2 Natura 2000 sites. The 300 km Tuzla-Podișor pipeline will cross 8 Natura 2000 sites, 4 of which are designated of community interest for habitats and 4 for birds. Moreover, the route will also pass through 3 Ramsar sites, all of which are bird protection areas (some primary, some secondary).

Greenpeace Romania has sued OMV Petrom and Romgaz, Tuzla City Hall and Local Council, the Dobrogea - Litoral Water Basin Administration and the National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" for irregularities in the approval processes and lack of transparency regarding crucial data on toxic substances to be discharged into the Black Sea. The environmental organization has also launched a petition to protect the Black Sea and 

stop the Neptun Deep project, which has been signed already by more than 40,000 people: https://suport.greenpeace.ro/salvammareaneagra

Contact

Alin Tanase, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Romania, + 40724210014, alin.tanase@greenpeace.org

Matache Mihnea, Communication Specialist, Greenpeace Romania, + 40749135749, mihnea.matache@greenpeace.org