France shale permits to be 'scrapped'

Start over: says French Prime Minister Francois Fillon

Scanpix/AFP

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By Aleya Begum & news wires

 13 April 2011 14:52 GMT

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said today that permits granted to explore potential shale fields in France must be cancelled and that the whole issue must be reviewed from the start.



Speaking at the National Assembly, Dow Jones reported Fillon as saying: "We need to start from zero, authorisations must be scrapped."

In February France put the brakes on all shale exploration, pending results from a report to investigate the effects of the controversial extraction methods used in shale development.

The move put a halt to drilling and drilling preparatory plans for US player Hess Oil, Canada’s Toreador Resources, Vermilion Energy, Schuepbach Energy and French supermajor Total.

Environmental groups and local communities have voiced heavy opposition to shale development on concerns…

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