Reuters: Poland could ease shale gas taxation 'slightly' - minister

Poland's planned tax on oil and gas exploration could be less than the 40-percent of the sector's gross profit approved by the government last year, Environment Minister Marcin Korolec said on Friday.

Poland hopes to capitalise on the production of shale gas but the government's plans for a hefty tax put forward in October has been criticised by representatives of some licence holders.

"The tax on gas and oil exploration will not vary much from what was approved by the government in October and it will definitely not exceed the 40 percent of the sector's gross profits. It might turn out to be slightly lower," Korolec told Reuters.

Korolec said the draft law for the new tax would be published in the coming days.  MORE