Marius Bulearcă

Shale Gas Exploitation– Economic Effects and Risks☆

Abstract The paper approaches the possible economic impact of the exploitation and turning to account shale gas resources, regarded from the perspective of other countries’ accomplished results. Also, the team studies social acceptability issues for the shale gas exploitation on international and national levels. Next, the environmental risks associated to high volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling for shale gas exploitation are reviewed.

A SWOT Analysis of Romanian Extractive Industry and Re-industrialization Requirements of this Industry☆

Abstract In this paper we have tried to achieve a dynamic portrait of Romanian extractive industry after 1989 to date, the current state of the sector (through well-balanced SWOT analysis), and to emphasize the role and importance of this industry in the development of Romanian society. Our research followed the technological developments and socio-economic characteristics transformations at both national and international level, and analyzed the different sectors of this industry in terms of development and its evolution over time (for natural gas, coal, iron ore, ferrous and non-ferrous minerals). For each of these resources several topics have been analyzed, such as: structural changes and developments in reserves, production capacity, production extracted from each resource deposit, labor force, etc. These outcomes will allow to analyze the extractive industry outlook in the economic context in general, and the energy sector in particular, to identify re-industrialization requirements for this industry, and to shape up the industrial policy elements that support and boost the re-industrialization process (these latest issues will be further discussed in our future research).

The Romanian Extractive Industry, from its Early Beginnings up to Year 1948

Abstract This paper presents a dynamic portrait of the evolution of Romanian extractive industry from its early beginnings up to year 1948, and highlights the role and importance of this industry in the evolution of Romanian society by that time. To achieve these goals, our research pursued the extractive industry development in three stages: from ancient beginnings to the First World War, then in the interwar period and, ultimately, up to the nationalization in 1948, emphasizing the technological developments and socio-economic characteristics changes at both national and international level. Special attention was placed on analyzing the different sectors of this industry in terms of development and its evolution over time (for natural gas, coal, iron ore, ferrous, non- ferrous and other non-metallic minerals). Being the first research in a row of four, this paper is a start that must be supported, disseminated and nurtured both by the scientific community of Romanian Academy (as we tried through our present work), as well as by policymakers, Governmental institutions, media, etc, thus all contributing to placing the Romanian nation on its deserved position among the nations of the world (these latest issues will be further discussed in our future research).