Algiers — The exploitation of shale gas “has no impact” on environment, said Monday in Algiers Minister of National Planning and Environment Dalila Boudjemaa.

“As a minister and an environmental specialist, I can say that the exploitation of shale gas has no impact on environment and all the studies carried out in this field has confirmed it,” said the minister on the sidelines of the closing of Parliament autumn session.

Protests against the exploitation of shale gas have been staged in several southern cities of the country over the past days.

President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Tuesday during a restricted meeting that the drilling tests launched in In-Salah “will end very soon,” adding that the “exploitation of this new energy is not yet on the agenda.”

The Head of State underlined that “if the exploitation of these new hydrocarbon resources proves to be necessary for the energy security of the country in the medium and long terms, the Government will ensure the respect of the law by the involved operators for the protection of the population health and the environment.”

Source: All Africa