22-09-09 The Polish gas monopoly PGNiG is looking to invest zlotys 400 mm ($ 141 mm) in 2010 on foreign exploration, twice as much as planned for 2009, its deputy chief was quoted as saying.
"We want the foreign part of our exploration business to be capable of financing itself as soon as in four years," Waldemar Wojcik told.

State-controlled PGNiG currently explores for gas off the coast of Norway, in Libya and Egypt and also has its sights set on countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia where the company already has exploration assets. PGNiG imports about two thirds of the 14 bn cm of gas it sells at prices tied to the cost of oil with a nine-month delay.
By 2015 the group wants to raise the amount of gas it taps by almost half to 6.2 bn cm, with 1.5 bn coming from foreign deposits, as it wants to lessen dependence on Russian imports.