Following up on last year’s House of Commons report on Shale Gas we have been in action this week at a major seminar focused on shale gas in Poland. The UK has strong experience in onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration. Poland is the latest in a number of countries in Central Europe to identify significant shale gas reserves. We want to work with Poland to fully exploit the opportunity. Why?
Three strategic challenges immediately come to mind. First, energy security – high on the EU’s agenda with a quarter of our gas supplies coming from one single source. Polish and British shale creates a chance for supplier diversification. Second, shale presents Poland with a potentially attractive bridge to cleaner energy sources. The UK’s 30% may seem a distant dream but shale is a good strategic option to look at. Third, business opportunity at a time when Europe is hungry for much needed growth. For the UK these are principally in the supply chain. There are however challenges.
Fracking is not easy – we have recently seen that off the North West coast in the UK. The good news is the Environmental Agency has given the methodology the go ahead. There does however need to be significant care and attention paid to how it is done. The UK has developed a good process. We are very happy to share that and work with Poland to fully exploit the opportunity. We have significant experience in the supply chain, regulation and safety. We want to share that too.
Over the course of the coming months we have a range of activities planned – events, seminars and briefings on energy and the shale gas opportunity. This is a potentially attractive route to energy security, cleaner energy and business growth. For more details on the recent government report and shale gas expertise contact us at the British Embassy in Warsaw.