Poland stands by shale gas plans despite Bulgarian vote

The Bulgarian parliament voted - in effect - this week not to go ahead with domestic shale gas exploration, leaving Poland potentially isolated in the EU.

France pulled the plug on its own shale gas exploration in 2011.

“This will not change Poland’s existing position presented to the EU, in which every member state has the sovereign right to define its own position regarding energy resources,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Bulgarian parliament passed a resolution January 18 that fines companies exploring for gas and oil deposits from shale rock using a process known as fracking.

US firm Chevron had actively been looking at possible shale gas deposits in Bulgaria. Its five-year licence was not renewed.

Poland has the largest estimated shale gas deposits, at 5.3 billion cubic meters, and is pushing ahead with exploration, with mainly North American firms involved at this stage of the exploratory process.

The European Commission is expected to publish a report on shale gas exploration in the EU this spring.

Fracking is seen by opponents as potentially damaging to the environment, possibly contaminating the water supply, among other things.

Bulgaria’s estimated deposits are from 0.3 to 1 billion cubic meters, enough for about 100 years of domestic gas consumption.

The Bulgarian decision was preceded by protests in Sofia against shale gas exploration plans.(jh)