Special Hydrocarbon Tax And Taxation Of Shale Gas In Poland

Abstract

Shale gas is considered as a new unconventional resource which may help to diversify the supply and increase accessibility of the gas among the final recipients. The exploration activities of shale gas in Poland are conducted since 2011. It was related with so-called gas revolution – a phenomenon that affected the gas extraction in the United States and Europe. The emergence of the possibility to extract shale gas, previously inaccessible owing to technological limitations, places before Poland the perspective of a significant increase in the production of natural gas and crude oil (Elaboration of government draft Bill on a Special Hydrocarbon Tax).According to the information of polish Energy Regulatory Office, at the end of 2011, there were 109 entities which carried out an activity related to the shale gas exploration. Since then, the growing importance of shale gas was recognized as a potential source of tax revenue. The impact of the shale gas business was significant. Just a few years after the beginning of the gas exploration, the Special Hydrocarbon Tax Bill was adopted on 25th July 2014. The regulations came into force on 1st January 2016.