POLAND AND ROMANIA TO GO FORWARD ON SHALE GAS

Polish energetic concern PGNiG discovers a shale gas field in Pomerania. Romania to organize a popular referendum to allow unconventional gas’ exploitation.

Poland to go forward, Romania to held a public consultation on shale gas. On Friday 11/17, Polish energetic concern PGNiG discovered a shale gas field in Opalino.

According to PGNiG Head Grazyna Piotrkowska-Oliwa, the shale gas field’s discover at 3 thousand meters of depth in the Pomerania region confirms the existence of other shale gas fields in several Poland’s regions.

According to the most important studies, Poland contains the biggest shale gas field in Europe in Masovian, Lublin and Podkarpacie regions. An additional shale gas field has been individuated in the Pomerania region.

Polish government already gave drilling concessions to Polish companies PGNiG, Tauron, Orlen, Enea, KGHM, PGE and Lotos. Moreover, Poland’s government involved also US concerns ConocoPhilips and Chevron in shale gas fields’ studies.

A different situation is the one Romania is facing on. In order to solve a political conflict, in the town of Mangallia is going to be held a local referendum to allow shale gas studying operation in contemporary with National Parliamentary Elections.

Romania’s President Traian Basescu, a moderate who supported a gas supplies’ diversification policy according to the European Commission, gave shale gas studies’ concessions to US concern Chevron.

Nevertheless, Romanian PM Victor Ponta, a socialist who supported the “green” protest and the necessity to have stronger relationship with Russia, endorsed a shale gas field study’s moratorium.

Shale gas is an unconventional gas already exploited in Northern America. Shale gas sell is going to allow to the USA to become the first gas exporter in the world.

If confirmed, shale gas resources in Poland can decrease Poland and EU dependence on Russia’s natural gas supplies.

Matteo Cazzulani