Central European Petroleum (CEP), the Polish arm of Canadian-founded Central European Petroleum, has announced Poland's largest-ever oil and gas discovery near Świnoujście. The discovery was made at the Wolin East 1 exploration well, located just six kilometers from the Baltic coast.

Scale of the Discovery

In a statement released on Monday, CEP said the broader Wolin concession could hold over 33 million tons of oil and 27 billion cubic metres of market-grade natural gas. CEP CEO Rolf Skaar described the deposit as "the largest conventional hydrocarbon discovery ever made in Poland and one of the largest conventional oil finds in Europe in the last decade."

In an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Skaar said the confirmed reserves may rival or even exceed the size of the Barnówko-Mostno-Buszewo field, previously considered Poland's largest. He explained that BMB holds around 400-500 million barrels of oil, with an estimated recovery of 100 million barrels, adding, "We're talking about a deposit of the same scale – if not larger."

Impact on National Energy Production

Poland currently imports 95% of its crude oil. CEP estimates the new field could more than double national oil production and increase gas output by 20%. The company is working with US-based Noble Corporation on drilling operations and is now seeking both Polish and international partners to help develop the site.

Political Response

The discovery has drawn significant political attention. Dariusz Joński, MEP of the ruling Civic Coalition, wrote on X that this represents "a huge opportunity for the national energy sector." He noted that the oil reserves "amount to as much as 20 times Poland's annual production, and the gas reserves are five times that amount."

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also welcomed the discovery, comparing it to recent national milestones, including Iga Świątek's Wimbledon victory and the country's latest space mission. "Apparently, God really does love our government," he wrote on X. 

The discovery has been characterized as a potential game-changer for Poland's energy independence and represents one of Europe's top hydrocarbon discoveries in the past decade.