News
25.07.2012 Information campaign on shale gas production
Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo launched a series of educational workshops on shale gas. The first edition of the workshops was held in the Province of Gdańsk. Workshop sessions for members of the media were held in Gdańsk and Olsztyn on July 11th and July 13th 2012, respectively, whereas the workshop sessions for local government representatives were organised in Krokowa and Starogard Gdański on July 19th and July 20th 2012, respectively. On July 25th 2012 the Company also started publishing a monthly newsletter on shale gas-related issues.
The workshops presented an opportunity for members of the media and representatives of local governments (head of communes, local council members and village leaders) to learn about the technology and safety of conducted operations, what the hydraulic fracturing process looks like and what it involves, as well as what substances the fracturing fluid is composed of. Moreover, the participants were familiarised with legal aspects related to exploration for and production of shale gas, including the rights of local governments and obligations to be fulfilled by exploration companies.
The workshops were also attended by independent experts and representatives of PGNiG, who remained at the disposal of workshop participants. The workshops highlighted examples of the long-standing cooperation with local communities in the area of natural gas production in the Province of Gdańsk as well as related benefits enjoyed by the local communities, which may be similar to those associated with shale gas production.
The workshops were attended by some 150 participants, who noted that the presented information on shale gas and a comfortable discussion atmosphere allowed them to gain a greater insight, which improves their confidence.
There still exists a large demand for objective knowledge on shale gas, in particular at the local level. This is confirmed not only by the results of surveys carried out among workshop participants, but also by observations made by PGNiG's representatives working at information offices launched by the Company in selected communes of the Province of Gdańsk. In the nearest future, PGNiG intends to organise further editions of the workshops and open meetings with inhabitants of the areas where exploration work is or will be conducted.
PGNiG Press Team
