ABSTRACT
Chapter 10 will analyse the social, political and legal issues relating to shale gas extraction in a jurisdiction that was overwhelmingly pro-extraction. Poland provides a unique study since it sought to exploit its shale gas resources as a means of securing energy independence from Russia, and in the early phase, appeared to favour energy security over food security. However, disappointing shale gas exploration results, combined with the strength of the Law and Justice Government, has seen the primacy of agriculture and the reform of the agricultural sector increase. This chapter provides both an historical and a fresh contextual analysis of shale gas in Poland. It gives an overview of the previous focus on shale gas as an ‘all or nothing’ approach to resource development, but a more recent pro-agriculture anti-shale gas approach. The study comprises two periods – period of 2010–2015 which is marked by the State’s pro-shale gas focus, and the period from 2015 onwards with the election of a new government demonstrating a pro-agriculture approach. The chapter considers the importance to energy security in Poland, as well as the importance of shale gas to energy security. It also undertakes an analysis of the issue of agricultural reform, examining the statist approach to secure it.
