The Bulgarian government is planning 6 new tenders for natural gas exploration permits in the near future, Diana Yaneva from the Ministry of Economy has told Novinite.com
This information comes in a context where shale gas - a novel approach of extracting gas dissolved in clay-like rocks - is becoming popular in Bulgaria.
This far two companies involved in shale gas production - Direct Petroleum and Park Place Energy - have received permits from the government. Major US company Chevron has also been expressing strong interest, backed by US ambassador to Sofia James Warlick.
Direct Petroleum has already announced a sizeable shale gas discovery and might start production at a smaller site by 2011.