New regulations from Brussels could cap Poland’s dream of independence from Russian gas supplies as they would block exploration for shale gas reserves across the country. Current estimates for Polish shale supplies gas is estimated at 5.3 trillions sqm, and the state-owned energy giant PGNiG was gearing up to start the search this year. But after a decision by French officials to ban hydraulic fracturing, a key step in shale gas extraction, Poland may find itself without allies in Brussels.
The stakes are high, says Maciej Kaliski, head of the department of oil and gas in the Ministry of Economy, as there are groups in Brussels that want to restrict the role of shale gas in Europe. Jan Krasoń, a well-known geologist, blames the French decision on the powerful Gazprom lobby. “Some 80 percent of energy in France comes from nuclear sources,” he told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.”Shale gas poses competition for their energy sector.”
Poland is promoting the use of shale gas energy and had hoped to use its time as European president to make the raw material’s extraction a common European project.
