French oil and gas giant Total SA (TOT, FP.FR) plans to challenge the French government's decision to cancel its exploration permit for a shale gas field in Montelimar, in the south of France, reported Les Echos Monday.
French oil and gas giant Total SA (TOT, FP.FR) plans to challenge the
French government's decision to cancel its exploration permit for a shale gas
field in Montelimar, in the south of France, reported Les Echos Monday.
"We respected the law and we do not understand why this permit was
withdrawn on legal grounds," said Total chief executive, Christophe de
Margerie, speaking to Les Echos.
In October the French government canceled exploration permits on shale-gas
fields after it said Total maintained its intention to drill the potential
fields using hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique that was banned in
the country earlier this year.
France's energy minister, Eric Besson, and environmental minister, Nathalie
Kosciusko-Morizet, said the permit, which represents all of the country's
potential shale-gas fields, had been canceled after the company submitted a
mandatory report about its drilling technique in which it maintained its plans
to use hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."
Total however insisted it had committed to not using any technique that is
banned by law.
The French government banned fracking in May over concerns about the
technique's impact on the environment, after environmental activists protested
about the exploration and possible developments of the fields, fearing
chemicals used in the process could pollute groundwater.
However, a report issued in April following a government request said French
shale-oil and -gas fields are potentially some of the most promising in
Europe
and
banning exploration before reserves are assessed could be detrimental to
France
's
economy and labor market.
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