Poland should proceed slowly in introducing any system of taxing shale gas extraction in order to help the fledgling industry get on its feet, deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak told reporters Thursday.

"At least in the beginning investors should be given a chance to find shale gas and then begin extraction," Pawlak said.

The government must avoid the temptation to slap a one-size-fits-all tax on all mineral and hydrocarbon mining, he added.

As a part of its fiscal consolidation measures, the government has said it will introduce a tax on mined copper and silver, then follow up with a tax system for hydrocarbon extraction.