OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS FOR POLISH ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EXPLORATION AND EXTRACTION OF SHALE GAS

This article attempts to present the potential opportunities and threats for Polish economic growth in the context of exploration and future extraction of shale gas. This topic is at the present time very timely because of the implementation of the exploration wells in Pomerania and Lublin, the prevailing unrest in the areas of concessions, as well as the lack of scientific, law and business base, confirmed by analyzes and forecasts for the licensed areas in Poland, to enter in the production phase. It could be dare to claim that: 1. potential risks of economic development (economic, social, environmental, in public health) from the extraction of shale gas using hydraulic fracturing are not so examined, and 2. potential Polish economic development opportunities, based on the existing, conflicting forecasts regarding production, not confronted with the probable losses caused by shale gas extraction using hydraulic fracturing method has not been sufficiently analyzed, to take on the industrial production of gas without risk. The paper used the methods of literature analysis, case studies, statistical analysis based on GUS and PGI data and the methods of induction-deduction and comparisons. On the basis of economic analysis for Polish, American experience, as well as current research on the introduction of other methods of shale gas production, the European Union recommendations cannot be concluded that the production of unconventional gas in Poland will not cause negative environmental and social impacts, resulting in will risks in economic development.