"We will discuss this proposal. Based on the information available to me, exploration should be done by foreign companies. Based on the latest data, that should not cost Lithuania anything. We should approve of this option, but, of course, we will discuss this issue. In my opinion, this should not be stopped if foreign companies want to take part, perform surveys, and draw conclusions," he told the Žinių Radijas radio station.
Social Democrat Algimantas Salamakinas, the chairman of Seimas Committee on Environment Protection, told Vz.lt on Wednesday that he doubted if the international tender for shale gas exploration and production was worthwhile.
January 14 is a deadline for submitting applications to participate in the bidding process to the Lithuanian Geological Service.
Juozas Mockevičius, the director of the service, told BNS last month that the tender had attracted interest from more than ten companies, including from the United States and Canada.
The service launched the tender for exploration and production of shale gas in Western Lithuania in late June 2012.
According to untested estimates, Lithuania could hold recoverable shale gas reserves of 100 billion to 120 billion cubic meters.
