PGNiG to Extract Shale Gas in Pakistan

Poland's Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA or PGNiG, will likely participate in the first extraction of shale gas in Pakistan, reports Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

The Polish gas monopoly hold a 70 percent stake in a concession where shale gas has been discovered, with the balance held by Pakistan Petroleum Limited.

The process of extraction of the unconventional fuel there is expected to start by the end of this year. This is the first time shale gas will be extracted in Pakistan.

The deposits of shale gas under the PGNiG-owned concession are estimated at 17 billion cubic meters, while the country's total shale gas reserves are estimated at nearly 1.5 trillion cubic meters.

The Pakistani government, which plans to cooperate with the Polish gas and oil concern, hopes that the exploitation of shale gas will supplement Pakistani energy reserves and will constitute an alternative to oil.