A referendum on the extraction of natural gas is being held today in General Toshevo municipality, in connection with the investment plan to drill 41 wells on the еenvirons of 18 towns and villages in the area.

Close to 13,000 people living in the municipality are entitled to vote. They will be answering the question whether they agree for General Toshevo municipality, as represented by the municipal council or the mayor, to approve management plans for the extraction and processing of subsurface natural resources.

The decision to hold a referendum was taken by the General Toshevo municipal council on 1 November, after a series of protests by the local population against the application for a 35-year concession for the extraction of natural gas from Spasovo gas field.

A little over 13,000 citizens will be casting their vote at 47 polling stations today. Voting began at 7 AM and will end at 8 PM. To be valid, no less than 5,058 people should have cast their vote in the referendum.