France Upholds Fracking Ban After Constitutional Court Ruling

France’s Constitutional Court confirmed the ban on hydraulic fracturing on Friday, ruling that the 2011 law is not “disproportionate.” It said that the ban is completely in line with the Constitution.

According to a note released on Friday, ‘articles 1 and 3 of law number 2011-835 as of July 23, 2011 … conform to the Constitution.’

The French government withdrew three shale gas permits granted to Schuepbach and Total SA following the adoption of the 2011 law, which prohibits the exploration and exploitation of shale gas and shale oil by fracking. The Dallas-based company contested the ban in a court of Cergy-Pontoise near Paris. This court forwarded the case to France’s Council of State, which then referred to the Constitutional Council. 

With Friday's ruling, France upholds the ban introduced by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011 and confirmed by Francois Hollande who repeatedly ruled out fracking during his presidency. 

Schuepbach Energy asked the French government for 1 billion euros ($1.36 billion) in compensation for the repeal of two exploration permits licenses in Nant (Aveyron) and Villeneuve-de-Berg (Ardèche). The compensation request for permits in Nant and Villeneuve-de-Berg, in southern France, is separate from Friday's ruling.