PGNiG: Only EU Ban will Stop Shale Gas Development in Poland

The new president of the Poland's natural gas market leader PGNiG, says that French and German nuclear lobbies, together with Russian exporters of gas, may try to use anti-shale propaganda to defend their interests in Europe.

Speaking to www.rmf24.pl, Piotrowska Oliwa Grazyna Piotrowska Oliwa recognized that proper information and education needs to become an important counterbalance to ant-shale gas efforts.

According to Ms. Piotrowska Oliwa, the key to success is in persuading locals that shale gas can be a contributor to their communities, as well as being environmenally neutral: that there is "no burning water in taps, no smells, no chemicals," and that shale gas operations are far more friendly than, for example, lignite mines.

Asked what can stop Poland's drive towards increasing its energy security and meeting its domestic requirements through shale gas development, the PGNiG president pointed to only to EU regulations.

"Introducing ban at the European level would seriously complicate any litigations and appeals," said Piotrowska Oliwa.

Grazyna Piotrowska-Oliwa, who served as Member of the Management Board at another state-controlled company PKN Orlen, took over her new at position at PGNiG  on 19 March 2012.