Relaxation on Fracking Ban Rejected in France

French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Energy Delphine Batho has rejected on Wednesday any relaxation of the ban on hydraulic fracturing, referring to the environmental risks like induced seismicity and pollution of groundwater.

“The reality is that the cost of output of shale gas in the United States does not take into account the environmental damage,” said Batho during a debate with Laurence Parisot, head of the French business association MEDEF.

Parisot reiterated the aversion of MEDEF to the law imposed by the government of former President Nicholas Sarkozy in 2011, asking for research to evaluate the French shale oil and gas resources.

According to the French news agency AFP, Batho said that the ban is a “democratic victory” due to an “unprecedented mobilization.” 

“We refuse to consider a resource that could change everything for the country’s economic situation,” responded the president of MEDEF during a debate that aired on RMC/BFM TV.

Earlier this year the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) warmed to the idea of energy transition, paving the way to shale gas explorations in France.

“I also want to fight unemployment. We will do this investing heavily in energy efficiency and renewable energies,” concluded Batho. The French president François Hollande committed to the ban on hydraulic fracturing during the political campaign.

According to the 2012 estimates by the International Energy Agency, France is one of the countries with the highest potential gas reserves in Europe.