Poland has struck black gold off its northern coast, unveiling what experts call the country’s largest oil discovery ever – and one of Europe’s biggest in a decade. This finding could significantly strengthen Poland’s national and regional energy security. A Canadian exploration firm, Central European Petroleum (CEP), announced that its Wolin East-1 well, drilled just ~6 km from Poland’s border with Germany, hit an estimated 22 million tonnes of crude oil, around 160 million barrels, plus 5 billion cubic metres of natural gas.
The broader concession could hold even more – over 33 million tonnes of oil and 27 bcm of gas – potentially doubling Poland’s known oil reserves at a stroke. Officials hailed the find as a “historic moment” for Poland’s energy sector, one that could significantly strengthen national and regional energy security. But the discovery, nestled in Baltic waters near the German holiday island of Usedom, has also ignited environmental concerns among Poland’s EU neighbours and raised questions about balancing fossil fuels with Europe’s green ambitions. If developed, the field could cover 4–5% of Poland’s annual oil demand for years, reducing dependence on imports. Domestic output might jump to ~2 million tonnes per year – a modest output globally, but a welcome step for an EU/NATO country that currently imports ~97% of its oil. Polish officials see the find as a strategic asset for national and European energy security
Tension Between Energy Security and Climate Goals
The oil strike comes as Poland – like the rest of the EU – is investing heavily in renewable energy and trying to shed its coal-dependent past. Poland’s solar and wind capacity has surged in recent years, and the government aims to drastically cut coal’s share in power generation by 2040. The new oil source underscores the tension between energy security and climate goals, as Polish authorities embrace the find while German officials decry a “backwards” fossil project at the EU’s doorstep.
Warsaw has welcomed the discovery enthusiastically, signalling it won’t seek anyone’s “permission” to exploit resources in its waters. In Germany’s neighbouring state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, however, leaders warn that Baltic drilling threatens the “paradise” coastal environment and tourism on Usedom. Environmental groups insist the future lies in “sun, wind and biomass”, not new oil wells, calling the project an “industry policy poker game” in a protected natural area.
Europe’s Largest Oil Find in Years – On Poland’s Doorstep
The Wolin East-1 exploratory well has delivered a gusher of superlatives. Preliminary data indicate 22 million tonnes of recoverable oil, plus condensate, and 5 bcm of gas in this single structure. Spread across a 593 km² license zone in the Baltic Sea, the entire field could hold over 33 million tonnes of oil and 27 bcm of gas, CEP reports. These volumes dwarf anything previously documented in Poland – no one had ever reported such quantities from a Polish well. “If this discovery is ultimately confirmed, it could become the largest crude oil and gas deposit ever discovered in Poland,” said Krzysztof Galos, Poland’s chief geologist, according to Euronews. In fact, it would be the biggest find since World War II on Polish territory, TAZ reports, and a standout in Europe over the past ten years.
Drilled in shallow waters – 9.5 m deep – to a total depth of 2,715 m, the Wolin East well lies just off the port of Świnoujście, a stone’s throw from the German border. Its jack-up rig is visible from the beaches of Usedom island – a fact not lost on Germany’s local residents and officials. The Canadian operator CEP. based in Calgary, struck oil in partnership with a specialist drilling firm, and now faces the task of appraising and developing the field. Confirmation by Poland’s Commission for Mineral Resources is needed, requiring further drilling, data analysis and documentation – a process that could take a few years. Only after a thorough appraisal will the reserves be officially booked and production plans finalised.
Nonetheless, optimism in Warsaw is high. CEP’s CEO Rolf G. Skaar called it “a joint opportunity to unlock the full geological and energy potential of the Baltic Sea”, declaring the moment “historic” for both his company and Poland. Government officials likewise see a breakthrough. “This discovery… could prove to be a turning point in the history of hydrocarbon exploration in Poland,” said Undersecretary Krzysztof Galos, noting it comes in a still under-explored area of the Baltic shelf. Indeed, Poland’s offshore zone had seen relatively little oil exploration compared to the North Sea – until now. The 22 million-ton find would more than double Poland’s existing oil reserves, around 20 million tonnes as of 2023, instantly elevating the country’s resource base.
For Poland – a nation far better known for coal mining than oil – this is a striking development. It places Poland on the map of oil-producing European countries, at least on a modest scale. If the high-end resource estimate holds, 33 million tonnes of oil, it even approaches the annual output of some mid-tier OPEC members in reserves, albeit not in flow rate. Contextually, however, experts urge realism: “These volumes, while significant, won’t turn Poland into the next Qatar or Norway overnight,” one analyst quipped. The discovery is huge by Polish standards but still relatively small on a global scale, and its impact will depend on the speed and cost of extraction.
Security Strategy: Reducing Reliance on Imports
The timing of the new oil find is a strategic win for Poland’s security planning. In the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine, energy security has become an existential priority for EU and NATO members. Poland, in particular, has worked to end its reliance on Russian fuels – once the dominant source of its oil and gas. As of 2022, Poland was importing around 25 million tonnes of crude from Russia annually, the bulk of its supply. But after February 2022, that dropped to virtually zero, replaced by shipments from Saudi Arabia, Norway, the US and others. Similarly, Russian pipeline gas was cut off and substituted with LNG from Qatar and America and pipeline flows from Norway and EU neighbours. This rapid diversification, while geopolitically necessary, has left Poland exposed to high global market prices and long supply lines. A domestic oil source, however modest, is thus a strategic asset: local production that cannot be weaponised by foreign powers.
Poland currently imports about 97% of the oil it consumes, making it one of the EU’s most import-dependent countries for petroleum. Domestic crude output has covered only 3–3.5% of demand in recent years – effectively a rounding error. Most of Poland’s meagre oil production comes from a handful of small onshore fields and a tiny Baltic platform run by the refiner Orlen. The Wolin East field could change that equation. Officials estimate that once developed, it could raise Polish oil output to at least 2 million tonnes per year, supplying 4–5% of national needs over multiple years. In fact, 22 million tonnes is roughly equal to Poland’s entire annual refinery throughput; the country’s refineries process ~24 million tonnes a year. Of course, that oil will be extracted over a decade or more, not all at once. But even a 5% self-sufficiency in oil would meaningfully improve Poland’s energy independence – and by extension NATO’s collective energy security – by cutting some imports. Every barrel pumped from the Baltic is one less that Poland must buy from potentially volatile international markets.
This security angle resonates strongly in Western capitals. The United States set a powerful example over the past decade by doubling its oil output, largely through shale drilling, and transforming from a top importer into a net exporter. That boom insulated the U.S. economy and military from external oil shocks and gave Washington new geopolitical leverage. European NATO members have had no such oil bonanza – North Sea production has been declining, and most EU states have virtually no oil resources. Hence a new EU-based oil source, within a NATO ally’s borders, is strategically valuable even if it’s not enormous. It helps diversify supply for Europe, reduce exposure to hostile supply cut-offs, and ensures that a bit more petrodollars stay within allied hands. Polish officials explicitly cast the discovery in these terms: strengthening “energy autonomy” and security by cutting imported fossil fuels.
Moreover, Poland’s Baltic coast is already a linchpin of regional energy security due to infrastructure like the Świnoujście LNG terminal, receiving gas from the U.S. and Qatar, and the Naftoport oil terminal in Gdańsk, which handles seaborne crude deliveries. The new oil field nearby will further bolster the “North Gate” strategy of supplying Central Europe via non-Russian sources. As energy analysts note, exploiting domestic reserves, however limited, can significantly contribute to Poland’s energy security. It gives Poland a bit more buffer against external supply disruptions and price spikes – a buffer that could prove crucial in crisis scenarios.
That said, nobody expects Poland to turn into an “oil sheikh” state. “Poland will not become another Kuwait or Norway because of this”, Germany’s TAZs newspaper dryly noted. Poland consumes about 27 million tonnes of oil per year, so even the entire Wolin East reserve, if 33 Mt,s equates to just over one year of national demand. In other words, Poland uses more oil in a year than this field contains in total. Clearly, imports will remain necessary for the foreseeable future. The field’s output, perhaps a peak of ~40,000 barrels per day, would be a drop in the EU’s broader oil bucket – Europe at large consumes several million barrels daily. Nonetheless, from Poland’s perspective, 4–5% is a big improvement on 3%, and symbolically it shows that even as Europe pivots green, *“oil is still needed and having your own makes you more secure,” as one official put it.
Fuel for Poland’s Growth
Economically, the Baltic oil find could be a multi-billion-dollar boon for Poland – if developed efficiently. At current prices, the oil in Wolin East might be worth on the order of $10–15 billion gross. Tapping it will require a major investment in offshore production infrastructure, likely hundreds of millions of dollars. CEP has indicated it is seeking partners, potentially larger oil companies or Poland’s state energy firms, to finance and operate the production phase. Poland’s government will also be involved: under Polish law, the state holds ownership of mineral resources, and development decisions – including environmental approvals – rest with the government. It would not be surprising if PKN Orlen, the national oil company, or PGNiG, gas company, take a stake alongside CEP to ensure Poland’s strategic interests are served.
If all goes smoothly, first oil could flow by 2028 or 2029. Galos, the chief geologist, estimated that “regular production can begin in 3–4 years at the earliest”, assuming permitting and environmental studies conclude favourably. This timeline is optimistic – offshore projects often face delays – but Poland will undoubtedly push to fast-track it. Once on stream, the field is expected to produce for“multiple years”, gradually depleting the 22 million-ton reserve. The output would feed directly into Polish refineries, displacing a chunk of imported crude. That improves the trade balance, fewer dollars or euros sent abroad for oil, dpd and could create jobs in extraction, transport and ancillary services. The port of Świnoujście and the surrounding region might see a mini-boom from support industries and possibly new pipelines or storage facilities.
However, experts caution that Poland “won’t become rich like Kuwait” from this single field. The scale, while large for Poland, is limited. Also, offshore extraction costs can be high – the project must be economically viable. If production costs per barrel end up higher than the cost of importing oil, the venture could even be shelved despite the find. At present, though, oil prices remain robust enough to justify development, and Poland’s thirst for non-Russian supply adds political value beyond simple profit. Local municipalities may negotiate royalties or compensation, and the Polish treasury will collect taxes on the oil produced, but it’s not a transformative windfall on the order of a giant Middle East discovery. In short, the Baltic oil will provide Poland a helpful economic supplement – not an entire energy diet.
Oil Boom vs. Green Goals
The discovery has spotlighted a policy tightrope Poland and the EU are walking: how to reconcile new fossil-fuel exploitation with ambitious climate-change commitments. Poland, along with all EU members, has pledged to reach climate neutrality by 2050, and is bound by EU targets to slash carbon emissions and expand renewables by 2030. In recent years, Warsaw has heavily invested in green energy – particularly solar and wind – to pivot away from its coal-heavy heritage. Remarkably, wind and solar generated over 21% of Poland’s electricity in 2023, a record high – up from just 16% in 2022. Total renewables, including hydro & biomass, accounted for roughly 27% of power generation in 2023, overtaking gas and steadily eating into coal’s dominance. In fact, Poland hit a milestone in mid-2025 when, for the first time ever, renewables produced more electricity than coal over a whole month – a symbolic tipping point for a nation long powered by King Coal.
Poland’s government has set out plans, the Energy Policy to 2040, to cut coal’s share in the electricity mix to at most 56% by 2030 and boost renewables to at least 32% by then. This entails massive rollout of offshore wind farms in the Baltic, aiming for ~11 GW of capacity by 2040, more onshore wind, now easier after a restrictive law was eased, solar farms and rooftop PV, which have exploded to over 10 GW installed capacity following generous incentives, and even nuclear energy – Poland plans to open its first nuclear plants in the 2030s. In short, Poland is firmly committed to a cleaner energy future, not out of whim but necessity – its smoggy cities and EU air quality mandates demand it, and EU funds are helping bankroll the transition. The country has also built new gas infrastructure (LNG terminals, pipelines) to use gas as a bridging fuel as it exits coal.
It is against this backdrop that a new oilfield presents a dilemma. German officials have been quick to criticise the Wolin East project as a climate mistake. Till Backhaus, environment minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the German state across the border, blasted the plan in Die Welt as “climate policy from the past”, saying the region should focus on renewables, not oil. He argues the future lies in “the energy of sun, wind and biomass,” not in drilling the Baltic. Local German mayors worry that an oil operation offshore will be “a serious intrusion into [our] paradise” of beaches and wildlife. Environmental groups warn of risks to the fragile Baltic Sea ecosystem – potential oil spills or even routine rig noise that could disrupt marine life. A German conservation NGO accused Warsaw of “destroying the protected Baltic coast” for short-term gain, invoking nightmare scenarios of an oil rig accident turning the Vorpommern Bay into a toxic slick.
The Polish government’s response has been defiant. When pressed about German unease, a Polish government spokesman flatly stated that Poland will “not be asking anyone’s permission” to exploit resources in its territory. Polish officials emphasise that all proper environmental assessments will be done, and if the field extends into German waters, there are indications it might be a transboundary reservoir; they will cooperate on oversight. But the undertone is clear: Poland views this oil find principally through a security and economic lens, not a climate lens. As one Warsaw official retorted, this is “a business whose time is ending” – referencing EU climate goals – “but until it ends, we’ll drill what we have.” It’s a realpolitik stance: even as Poland builds wind farms, it won’t leave an oil bonanza untapped, especially when Europe still needs oil for decades to come – for transport, petrochemicals, aviation, et cetera. Better we produce our own oil than import 100% of it, goes the logic. This balancing act is not unique to Poland. Other NATO allies face it too – the UK and Norway continue offshore drilling even as they pledge carbon neutrality, arguing domestic production with higher environmental standards is preferable to importing from nations with looser standards. Similarly, the United States, while championing renewables in recent years, has at times urged drillers to pump more oil to keep prices stable. NATO’s strategic outlook has begun to integrate climate security, but it also acknowledges that energy resilience in the near term still relies on oil and gas. In Poland’s case, the Wolin East field can be seen as a bridge: it enhances energy security now without derailing the long-term march to cleaner energy. Polish climate officials insist the new oil does not alter their emissions-cut path – it just means Poland might import slightly less oil from elsewhere while transitioning. In fact, using locally produced oil could cut emissions associated with transporting oil halfway around the world by tanker.
Poland – Cradle of the Oil Industry
Poland has actually been in the oil business since the 19th century. In the 1850s, the southeast region of Poland – then Galicia, under Austro-Hungarian rule – was one of the birthplaces of the modern oil industry. Famed Polish inventor Ignacy Łukasiewicz, a pharmacist by training, not only built the world’s first modern kerosene lamp in 1853 but also helped drill one of the world’s first oil wells in 1854 at Bóbrka. This Bóbrka oil mine, still preserved as a museum today, is considered the oldest industrial oil well on Earth. It predates the famous 1859 Titusville well in Pennsylvania, meaning Europe’s first oil rush actually began on Polish soil. By the late 19th century, the oilfields of Galicia were booming; for a time, Poland (Galicia) was one of the world’s leading oil producers, supplying kerosene and lamp oil to Europe until larger finds in America and the Caspian overtook it.
That early prominence faded in the 20th century. Most of Poland’s oil deposits were small and dwindled by mid-century. In the post-WWII era, communist Poland did establish a domestic oil and gas industry, notably in the Carpathian foothills and the western Polish Lowland, but output remained minor. The largest oilfield in modern Poland before this Baltic find was at Dębno, discovered in the 1960s, which had an oil column about 33 meters thick – less than half the thickness encountered at Wolin East, 62 m of oil-bearing rock. As Galos noted, “no one until now had reported such [large] quantities” from a Polish drill site. In recent decades, Poland’s annual oil production hovered around a mere 0.7 million tonnes, approximately 5,000 barrels per day, a trivial amount versus global producers. Thus, the Wolin East discovery marks a dramatic new chapter in Poland’s petroleum story – almost a return to its 19th-century roots, but on a 21st-century offshore stage. Black gold has been found in the Baltic, and it may well help fortify the region’s energy security fortress, even as the Continent races toward a cleaner, greener horizon.
Read More:
- Euronews: Poland discovers one of Europe’s largest oil deposits in a decade
- TAZ: Großer Öl- und Gasfund vor Usedom
- Money.pl: Polska Norwegią nie zostanie. Na ile starczy złoże odkryte na Bałtyku? (in Polish)
- Money.pl: Złoża ropy na Bałtyku. Niemcy alarmują. Polska: nie będziemy pytać (in Polish)
- Merkur.de: Öl-Vorkommen an deutscher Grenze: Sorge in Urlaubs-Paradies wegen „historischer“ Entdeckung (in German)
- European Parliament: Poland’s climate action strategy
- Ember Energy: Changing course: Poland’s energy in 2023
- The Chemical Engineering: The Story of Oil 1822–1922
- Wikipedia: First Oil Well
