European Unconventional Gas Summit in Krakow to focus on communication challenges

Public acceptance and assurance of the safety of the unconventional gas industry are just some of the market challenges that will be discussed at the European Unconventional Gas Summit in Krakow from 27-29 September.

"Continual advancements in horizontal and directional drilling, hydro-fracking and seismic imaging are enabling the unconventional gas market in Europe to progress at an unprecedented rate", says Zara Nathan, Conference Director for the European Unconventional Gas Summit. She continues: "Operating costs are reducing with every test well drilled. In Poland, permits have been allocated and licenses agreed, now Europe as a whole is watching to see what the next stage will be."

However, major and independent operators are increasingly having to confront the non-technical challenges of communication and public relations. She explains: "the environmental risks, such as the possibility of ground water contamination, posed by unconventional gas development have prompted an unprecedented media response including the release of the Oscar nominated movie 'Gasland'. Furthermore, large scale and localised protests are becoming increasingly common, politicians are banning shale gas drilling in areas, such as France and the state of New York, and public perception of unconventional gas development is at an all time low."

All eyes on Poland
According to Zara Nathan, the European Unconventional Gas Summit is crucial to Poland as the country has the largest identified reserves of unconventional gas. "Poland also has a desire to diversify its energy sources and move away from Russian supply and is likely to provide the first example of European unconventional gas production. This, coupled with Poland's Chairmanship of the EU council from September this year means the country will be scrutinised at an international level and gas producers need to ensure they are operating in an exemplary manner. If the operators fail to address the communication challenges, it is likely that the sensitivity to unconventional gas will increase dramatically across Europe."

The European Unconventional Gas Summit will showcase leading examples of how to address public and political communication from industry experts including:
* Jim Johnston, Board Member, ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Poland
* Florence Geny, Senior Business Analyst, Statoil
* Davide Calcagni, VP Unconventional, Eni
* Stephan Singer, Global Energy Policy Director, WWF International
* Wieslaw Prugar, Member of the Management Board, OPPPW, President of the Management Board, Orlen Upstream
* Mark Katrosh, President, Hess Oil France
* Mikhail Slobodin, Executive Vice President, Gas and Power, TNK-BP

Event dates and location:
Conference: 28-29 September
The European Unconventional Gas Academy: 27 September
Location: Hotel Novotel Krakow Bronowice, ul. Armii Krajowej 11, 30-150 Krakow, Poland

Event website: www.eug-summit.com

The European Unconventional Gas Summit is part of Clarion Events, the UK's largest independent events company with annual turnover of over £150m, drawing upon over 80 years of experience of hosting strategic conferences conferences and seated events across Britain, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia. Our events, business-to-business and business-to-consumer, serve 15 different market sectors from leisure and entertainment to finance, from retail to gaming and from fine art to energy.

Communications Manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Email: Annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com
Tel: +27 21 700 3558
Fax: +27 21 700 3501
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 562 7844
Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg, 7964, South Africa

This release was published on openPR.