France may void shale permits 'next month'

French shale: permits may be scrapped next month

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By News Wires

 02 September 2011 20:04 GMT

France may quash permits to explore for oil and natural gas in shale under the country’s hydraulic fracturing ban as soon as next month, according to a report quoting Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.

Oil and gas companies that were planning to explore for shale hydrocarbons under previously granted licenses have until 13 September to inform the government whether they plan to use the technique known as fracking, the minister told Bloomberg in an interview at a conference outside Paris.

“After that we have one month to decide the fate of the permits,” she said. “If a company says it’s planning to use hydraulic fracturing, their permit will be cancelled. It’s the law.”

France’s fracking ban, the first in the world, took effect in July and could…

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