Polskie Radio: Polish shale gas exploration 'too slow'

A report by Poland's senior auditing institution has warned that at the current rate it will take 12 years before the country's shale gas potential can be properly assessed.

“In order to carry this out, it would be desirable to have about 200 wells,” the report by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) argues.

NIK stressed that while 113 licenses have been issued, only a small proportion of the territory in question has actually been explored.

On average, companies that have won licenses are installing one drilling platform a year and putting others on hold, the TVN24 news station reports.

“The reason for the slow pace of operations stems not only from the changing economic and financial situation but also from improper government action,” NIK claims.

At present it takes an average 130 days to secure a license, whereas the process should last just 30 days.

NIK has accused the Ministry of the Environment of being “unreliable” and not acting swiftly enough.  MORE