Poland, UK Set to Lead Charge on European Shale Gas

摘要

Poland and the UK still look likely to be the first European countries to harness unconventional gas, particularly shale gas, as political and geological problems dog development throughout the rest of.the continent. Among EU members, bans on hydraulic fracturing — required for commercial exploitation — exist in France, Romania and Bulgaria, while legal or de facto moratoriums are in place in the UK, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. Much of Germany, which has major resources, is also subject to a tracking moratorium. While companies including Exxon Mobil are keen to invest, and Statoil last month agreed to farm into Wintershall acreage, German policy is set by region, and North Rhine Westphalia looks set to impose an indefinite moratorium after two official reports in September (WGI Jun.27' 12).