December 18 (SeeNews) - Voters in Sunday's local referendum in the northeastern Bulgarian town of General Toshevo rejected with an overwhelming majority plans for oil and gas extraction in the area, election commission final data showed.
As many as 97% of people who went to the polls voted against the town council approving urban development plans for exploration, extraction and processing of gas, oil, solid fuels and mining waste on its territory, the referendum results posted on the commission's website showed.
Voter turnout stood at 52%, making the referendum outcome binding.
The referendum decision was triggered by protests due to concerns about the environmental impact of a planned investment project of local firm Rusgeocom BG for extraction of gas from the Spasovo gas deposit on the territory of the General Toshevo municipality, local media said earlier in December.