Romanian state-controlled natural gas producer Romgaz will start drilling three fields in Slovakia in February,
Bucharest-based media reported on Wednesday.
Drilling was initially
scheduled for 2013 but has been delayed due to the withdrawal of Ireland's San
Leon Energy fromthe project, financial daily Ziarul Financiar said.
Blue
chip Romgaz owns 25% of the licence onSvidnik, Medzilaborce andSnina fields in
Slovakia, of whichSan Leon Energy was the operator.
Discovery GeoPolska
is the new operator, with a stake of 50%. The remaining 25% are in the hands of
UK-based JKX.
Romgaz alsoowns 30% of two licences in Poland, Cybinka
andTorzym,acquired in 2008. Leon Energy, the operator of the concession, owns
45%, and UK-based Sceptre Oil &Gas holds 25%.
Cybinka andTorzym,
however, are still at the exploration phase, which could last until the end of
2017, the daily said.