Poland Presses State Entities to Co-operate in Shale Gas Exploration

Poland’s treasury minister is pressing Polish state-linked companies to work together in shale gas exploration.

Mikolaj Budzanowski told Rzeczpospolita what he would like to see companies controlled by the Polish treasury join together in efforts for local shale gas extraction.

The minister suggested that gas monopoly PGNiG and oil refiners PKN Orlen and Lotos, team with utilities PGE, Tauron, Enea and Energa in exploration efforts, with the ultities accessing the non-conventional gas to produce energy.

"It's thus not only about such companies as Lotos, PKN Orlen or PGNiG, but also the whole energy sector, or generally speaking about using the synergies between producing gas and its usage in the energy sector."

The deputy chief executive of Polish utilities company Enea said the state-controlled entity has already made early investigations into Polish shale gas market.

"From the very beginning when interest grew in the subject of shale exploration in Poland, Enea was exploring the market," deputy chief executive Krzysztof Zborowski told Reuters.

"We are interested and also considering the ways of participating in the process of shale gas extraction, but it's too early for details.”