Four government officials are thought to be among seven people charged with corruption over issuing shale gas exploration licences in the country, according to prosecutors in the country.
The accused, including former environment ministers, face eight years in prison for issuing concessions to three private shale gas exploration companies.
They face a total of 11 charges of receiving bribes between 13,000zlotys to 55,000zlotys (£2,600 – £11,300) between March and December 2011.
In recent years the Environment Ministry issued more than 100 concessions for shale gas exploration in Poland, with Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Talisman Energy and Marathon Oil among the majors to receive one.
But the interest for the resource has been on a decline due to the difficult exploration conditions and regulatory restraints.
Fewer than 50 wells have been drilled to date with Exxon, Talisman and Marathon having abandoned their operations earlier this year.