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Bucharest - European countries are divided on the extraction of shale gas.
This new source has sparked an energy boom in the United States, but its method of extraction, fracking, is controversial because of the risks it poses to the environment.
Exploratory drilling has been allowed and started in some European countries like Poland, but extraction has not yet begun.
The exact quantity of shale gas reserves and their quality have not been established yet.
Nod for exploratory drilling
Poland, Britain, Romania, Hungary and Spain are the strongest advocates of shale gas energy in Europe. They all delivered permits for exploratory drilling. Poland is far ahead with 44 exploratory wells though ExxonMobil pulled out because of disappointing results.
Last December, Britain decided that exploratory fracking can resume.
In Romania, US oil giant Chevron obtained permits to explore on Romanian Black Sea Coast and hopes to do so in the Eastern region of Barlad.
Lithuania recently passed a law allowing Chevron to proceed with exploration and extraction.
While Sweden and Denmark have delivered permits for exploration, shale gas is not a priority in their energy mix.
Countries that said no
France was the first country to ban fracking in 2011 because of the risks for the environment, as did Bulgaria and the Spanish region of Cantabria.
Italy has also said that it has no intention to launch shale gas extraction.
Countries in the middle
Germany has so far refused to allow exploratory drilling, and a move to allow prospecting under tight controls was postponed until after elections later this year.
The Netherlands has issued permits but they are suspended awaiting the results of a government investigation on the potential risks of fracking.
Belgium is conducting scientific studies before issuing any permits.
The Czech Republic is preparing a moratorium freezing for any prospecting for two years.
Austria has no exploratory drilling under way, and permits can be issued only after an environment impact study.
Slovakia, Finland and Latvia have shown no interest in shale gas extraction. In Portugal, exploratory drilling has been abandoned because of a lack of commercial interest.
