Constanța – Tens of thousands of people worldwide could die prematurely before the end of the century due to extreme temperatures caused by the total greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel company OMV Petrom's Neptun Deep project, according to an expert analysis prepared for Greenpeace Romania.[1] Today, a Greenpeace activist in an electric paraglider peacefully protested the project by flying near the Transocean Barents platform in the port of Constanța and unfurling a banner reading 'Stop Fossil Gas'. The platform is currently undergoing final preparations before being moved to the Neptun Deep drilling site. Neptun Deep would be located in the Romanian Black Sea and is Europe's largest proposed fossil gas drilling project.[2]
The analysis puts the possible death toll until 2100 at 46,000, for temperature-related deaths only. While there are major uncertainties in any such estimate, it illustrates the huge risks OMV Petrom is taking by developing Neptun Deep, gambling with everyone's safety. Neptun Deep would also contribute to increased air pollution and other extreme weather events. In addition to temperature-related deaths, the analysis estimates that more than 1.2 million children born between 2010 and 2020 could experience one additional heat wave in their lifetime as a result of emissions from Neptun Deep alone. This gas drilling project, which indirectly receives public funding from the EU, could produce more than 200 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 20 years.[3]
Vlad Catuna, Climate and Energy campaigner at Greenpeace Romania, said: "Who will explain to our children that in the middle of the climate crisis, greedy corporations and complicit governments just kept building more destructive fossil gas infrastructure? Fossil gas is the promise for high energy bills, massive floods and deadly heat waves. This is not the future that we want. OMV Petrom and Romanian authorities can't ignore the threat Neptun Deep poses to our collective future. This destructive project must be stopped."
Last week, OMV Petrom signed a first deal with German energy company Uniper SE to supply Germany. With Neptun Deep, Romania wants to become the EU's biggest gas producer, whereas several analyses show that the EU does not need expanded gas supplies to meet the declining European demand.[4]
Lisa Göldner, Fossil-Free Future Campaigner from Greenpeace Germany, said: "This project, together with the many other new gas infrastructure projects fossil fuel companies are planning, will lock the EU into an outdated, destructive energy system that harms people's wellbeing, safety and future. We must break free from fossil gas dependence by investing in reducing gas demand, expanding renewables and cutting energy waste. The EU and national governments have the responsibility to put an end to fossil fuel companies' deadly gas rush starting with banning all new fossil fuel projects."
In an open letter already signed by more than 78,000 people, Greenpeace is calling on the EU and national governments to ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure projects in the EU. In Romania 50,000 people already showed their opposition to Neptun Deep. Next week, the gas lobby will be meeting in Bucharest, Romania, for the European Gas Conference. Protests are already announced.
