BNE: Polish govt gives conflicting signals over push to develop shale gas

Poland plans to pass legislation in an attempt to reignite foreign investor interest in its push to explore for shale gas, an official claimed on May 14. That flies in the face of recent reports that Warsaw has lost its enthusiasm for the unconventional gas, and has no interest in supporting exploration - particularly by companies from overseas. 

The Polish cabinet should finally adopt a bill aimed at making its shale gas sector more friendly to increasingly wary investors by the end of June, Environment Minister Marcin Korolec told an energy conference on May 14. "I expect the shale gas draft bill to be adopted by the end of June and Parliament should do the same by the end of the year," he said, according to Reuters. 

Uncertainty over regulations governing the exploration and production of unconventional gas, as well as over taxation, has done much to hold back Poland's shale gas industry. The new regime would lighten the many bureaucratic obstacles to exploration, including environmental limitations, and create a state operator to take part in energy consortia.  MORE