What do Shale operators want from the government in Poland?

Rumours are circulating that the Polish government is planning to control around 40 percent of every local shale gas concession and levy a tax of up to 40 percent on the explored gas ( see Reuters Article)

Regardless of whether the rumour is true, operators will be frustrated. When I spoke to operators in the production of the Shale Gas World Europe Congress, the number one bug bear they had was that there was a lack of consistent – and clear – policy around shale gas development. They were begging for clear updates on the new laws and fiscal and regulatory regime in Poland. They were yearning for clarity on the licensing rules. As yet, the new law has not been officially announced, so these rumours do little to help their cause.

I think operators want one thing from the government: How to understand and navigate the new regulatory regime to maximise the shale gas opportunity in Poland

For their part, the government is doing the best it can. There have been a few changes at the top and clearly there has been a lot of industry and stakeholder consultation which is of course necessary. The government would do well, however, to deliver a clear and consistent policy on shale – announce the new laws and stop the rumour mill.