On 7th March 2012 Warsaw University hosted a workshop on golden rules for unconventional gas exploitation, organised by the International Energy Agency and the Mexican Minister for Energy. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Polish government: Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak and Chief National Geologist Piotr Woźniak.
Also attending the meeting were the Ambassador of Australia in Poland, Jean Dunn; the U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, Robert Cekuta; and representatives of companies active in the unconventional gas sector, including the President of the ORLEN Upstream Management Board, Wiesław Prugar.
Experts argued that in the nearest future unconventional natural gas could figure importantly in the energy balances of many countries. Also, attention was drawn to the fact that, given the steep prices of energy sources, looking for modern energy efficiency-enhancing processes was a must.
IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol agreed with a view that a golden age for gas was approaching, for the suppliers and the users alike. “In 2035 unconventional gas will account for one-fifth of the total production of this resource”, he said.
It was noted that the prospects of gas production from unconventional deposits in Poland were very promising and that, natural gas being the cleanest source of energy among the fossil fuels, this was Poland’s real chance of reducing its CO2 emissions.
At the end of May this year the IEA will publish a report “World Energy Outlook 2012” on the golden rules for the production of natural gas and oil from unconventional deposits, a summing up of the Warsaw workshop.