France Rejects Total Repeal of Unconventional Oil and Gas Licenses

France’s National Assembly today rejected proposed legislation to prohibit the development of shale gas and shale oil in the country.

The majority UMP New Centre party voted against the proposal, viewing it as surpurfluous after the earlier adoption in July of a bill that prohibited the technique of hydraulic fracturing in the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons.

The bill put forward by the Socialist Party, the Greens, the Communist Party and the Left Party sought to ban the licenses already issued for unconventional oil and gas exploration and to ensure more tranparency in the Mining Code.

Emboldened by the repeal of three licenses granted for shale gas exploration granted to Schuepbach Energy.and Total SA in the south of France, opponents of unconventional hydrocarbon development put forth legislation last Thursday, taking aim at the remaining 61 exploration permits issued throughout the country.