French Government ‘Totally Opposed’ To Fracking, Batho Says

French Government ‘Totally Opposed’ To Fracking, Batho Says by Tara Patel, July 24, 2012, Bloomberg
The French government is “totally opposed” to hydraulic fracturing, a drilling process to produce natural gas and oil from shale, French Environment and Energy Minister Delphine Batho said. “As it stands now this technique is risky for the environment and health and that is why France banned it,” Batho said today in Paris after a meeting between Prime Minister Jean- Marc Ayrault and environmental groups. “The prime minister confirmed we remain opposed to hydraulic fracturing. The position is perfectly clear.” … Following passage of the French law in parliament, the previous government suspended the rights of energy companies to explore for shale gas around Paris and in southern France. Oil companies including Total, the nation’s largest, and Toreador Resources Corp. had been awarded licenses for exploration. Shale energy will be part of a debate on environmental policy as will any possible new taxes on carbon, Batho said today. That debate is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 while one on energy will begin afterwards. … Geological problems are created by fracking while chemicals used in the process can migrate to water aquifers, she said.

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