LEGAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE EXPLOITATION OF HYDROCARBONS IN POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE EUROPEAN UNION. ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF SELECTED REGULATIONS

The production of hydrocarbons in Poland is regulated by the Geological and Mining Law, which has recently been amended. The new regulations make it much easier for investors to conduct shale gas, among others, exploration, appraisal and exploitation. In an article co-authored by Wojciech Bigaj and Anna Mathews from the Office of W & W, the license application procedure and the step by step phases of the tender and bidding process are presented in some detail. The authors also describe the qualification procedure and what the reasons are for the existence of the relevant regulations.

The Polish legislation seeks to encourage investors to carry out further drilling, while introducing regulations concerning the distribution of profits from the exploitation of minerals between the Treasury and the upstream sector entities. At the same time, the Czech authorities are inclined towards environmental protection and are taking action on a moratorium prohibiting hydraulic fracturing. The European Union has also implemented guidelines and recommendations concerning the principles for hydrocarbons production and environmental issues.

“The legal framework for the extraction of hydrocarbons in Poland, the Czech Republic and the European Union. Analysis and comparison of selected regulations. “Appeared in the Kosciuszko Institute Report “The development of shale gas in Poland and its prospects in the Czech Republic – analysis and recommendations” (ed. I. Albrycht, no ISBN: 978-83-63712-18-1), which was developed in the framework of the project, “Shale gas in the Czech Republic – a Polish-Czech information campaign on shale gas” co-financed by the Department of Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the “Polish-Czech Forum: supporting the development of Polish-Czech relations 2014.”
The report can be downloaded in PDF format below or from the Kosciuszko Institute website: http://ik.org.pl/pl/publikacja/nr/9351/rozwoj-sektora-gazu-lupkowego-w-polsce-i-jego-perspektyw/