Polish Environment Ministry Expecting Dozens of Shale Applications

The Polish Ministry of the Environment has today said that it expects dozens more applications for shale gas exploration licences, in addition to the 111 licences currently granted in the country.

In a statement released on the ministry's website, the Environment Ministry said that it expected 41 new shale wells to be drilled in Poland this year. 

The ministry said today that it estimates that around 29 per cent of Poland is prospective for shale gas, with potential reserves identified in 13 provinces and around 900 municipalities. However, despite the high number of wells planned and in process, the ministry said that strict regulation of the process was being observed in Poland.

"According to the information flowing down from the supervisory bodies, in the work conducted so far there has been no major irregularities," Polish Minister for the Environment, Piotr Wozniak said. "There were of course minor shortcomings, such as the placement of drilling waste in a place other than that indicated in the decision authorizing the recovery, but after checking they were quickly removed."

Poland continues to make strides in the shale gas arena with a strong focus from government and industry on the resource. Earlier this week, five Polish firms, including national gas company PGNiG, signed an agreement to explore for gas in the Wejherowo concession, operated by PGNiG.

Bloomberg also reports today, citing an interview with PGNiG CEO Grazyna Piotrowska-Oliwa in Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, that PGNiG may look to foreign partners on shale. In the interview, Ms. Piotrowska-Oliwa reportedly said that the company was in talk with several foreign majors to pursue and develop shale interests in Poland.