12 Nov 2012 17:19

Polish firms Orlen, Lotos and PGNiG form shale gas consortium

VILNIUS. Nov 12 (Interfax) - Poland's biggest oil companies, Orlen and Lotos, gas company PGNiG and four R&D organizations have formed a consortium to develop technologies to produce shale gas in the country, local media reports say.

The new consortium might receive financial support under the Polish Industrial Development Agency's Blue Fuel - Shale Gas Program.

Lotos and CalEnergy of the United States confirmed late October-early November that they plan to prospect shale gas deposits in neighboring Lithuania. A final decision on investing will be reached in 2014.

Lotos Group, which owns the Lithuania-based Lotos Geonafta, has said it would invest around EUR3 million exploring share gas deposits in Lithuania this year.