Polish company to build EU's first proppants factory
Baltic Ceramics has chosen a yet unnamed general contractor to build a ceramic proppant factory, first ever in the EU. Ceramic proppant is a substance used in a fracking process which pushes oil and gas to the surface.
The factory is expected to become operational in mid-2015. The company has already secured PLN 33 million from the EU structural funds and is issuing shares worth PLN 10 million to complete financing the project. After the process is complete the company will sign a deal with the selected contractor.
Baltic Ceramics wants to produce 135,000 metric tonnes of proppants per year and according to head of IndygoTech Minerals, the holding company controlling the company, Dariusz Janus it will sell its product internationally. “We have already received inquiries about our product from firms looking for shale gas in Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Britain,” Janus told Reuters
Currently, most of the proppants are being made in the US.
