French Assembly passes frac ban

France: lower house passes fracking ban

AFP/FRANCK FIFE

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By News Wires

 11 May 2011 19:02 GMT

France's lower house of parliament approved a bill today that would ban shale gas drilling due to environmental concerns, as a freeze on the controversial practice remains in effect.

The bill will be considered by France's Senate next month.

Opposition has centred on potential pollution from the large amounts of water and some detergent used in the fracking process, Reuters reported.

The bill, introduced by President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, forbids fracking and revokes existing shale gas permits.

In March, the government extended its moratorium on research and drilling for shale oil and gas, pending commissioned reports to establish their environmental impact.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon has said France will not rule out research to develop new forms of the technology that would be…

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