Gas extraction from shale deposits, seen as an alternative to conventional gas production, still remains commercially unprofitable, the energy program director of Greenpeace Russia said on Tuesday.
"Shale gas extraction needs different technology and large amounts of investment. In terms of reserves, it is comparable with high-pressure gas and is present everywhere, but the question is whether the shale gas extraction technology can advance to a commercially advantageous level," Vladimir Chuprov said.
The Russian business daily Kommersant reported on Tuesday that Poland could become the largest gas supplier for Europe following the discovery of large reserves of shale in the Central European country.
If Poland's gas resources are proved, total gas reserves in Europe will jump 47% and European shale gas extraction projects would pose a serious threat to Russian energy giant Gazprom in the next ten years, the paper said.
The Greenpeace official said that the U.S. and Canada had long been developing the technology of shale gas extraction.
"It is believed that the technology of shale gas extraction reaches profitability level at the gas price of $300 per 1,000 cubic meters," Chuprov said, adding that the whole of Europe, including Germany, France and Poland, were shale gas-bearing provinces.
"If a commercially beneficial technology is found, the issue will be raised about the need for Russian gas exports to Europe, which may create serious problems for Gazprom," the expert said.
MOSCOW, April 6 (RIA Novosti
