Lithuania Looks to Accelerate Shale Gas Development
Lithuania may commence test drilling for shale gas as early as 2012 with the assistance of foreign companies.
Meeting with the leadership of the Geological Survey of Lithuania, Environment Minister Gediminas Kazlauskas said more actions should be taken to determine the quantities of shale gas that Lithuania may hold and the benefits it could bring.
Exploration of shale gas is expensive and the country would be hoping to draw investment from foreign companies, the minister said.
Comments attributed to geologists have said that Lithuania has 480 billion cubic metres of shale gas which could produce 100 billion cubic metres of gas. However Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas says that these estimates are only theoretical considerations which are not based on geological data.
Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius intends to set up a working group on the matter.
Situated in south-west Lithuania, shale gas resources hope to meet the country's needs for from 30 to 50 years.
Source: Baltic Course
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