French Poll Favours Shale Hydrocarbon Development

A majority of the French people are in favor of developing shale hydrocarbons if it helps lower fuel prices, according to a poll released Thursday.

In total, 62% of the 1,004 people questioned by polling institute CSA, for consulting agency Publicis Consultants France, said they were in favor of extracting shale oil in France if this helps in lowering fuel prices, with price being the most important criteria.

Meanwhile, 33% of respondents said they were against it.

According to a preliminary report published two weeks ago, French shale oil and gas fields are potentially some of the most promising in Europe and banning exploration before the reserves are assessed could be detrimental to France 's economy and labor market.

The report was requested by the government in March, following environmentalist outcry at the government-granted permits to explore shale oil fields in the Paris Basin and shale gas fields in the Southeast of France. A final report is expected by June.

Faced with demonstrations and an intense national debate on potential damage to the environment and water tables from shale extracting techniques, the government recently scrapped the permits, and a draft bill to ban all exploration is to be debated at the French national assembly May 10.

For 62% of those polled by CSA, price is the most important criteria in terms of favoring one energy source above all others, while the environmental impact of the energy source came in second. The safe use of an energy came third.

When asked about energy development priorities, 92% of the persons polled said solar power should be the top priority, followed by wind power, then hydropower, gas, oil, and coal. Nuclear came last.

France is the world's second largest nuclear operator, with 58 nuclear reactors running, after the U.S. and ahead of Japan.

Following the nuclear accident of Fukushima , the government maintained its nuclear stance but has since decided to conduct an audit of all nuclear reactors of the country.

See the Poll Results Below

Exclusive poll by CSA / PUBLICIS CONSULTANTS FRANCE carried out by telephone on April 7th and 8th 2011 at the place of residence of the people questioned.

A representative sample of French adults (18+) composed of quotas (gender, age, head of household’s occupation) after stratification based on regions and agglomeration sizes.

The following summarizes key findings in the poll on public attitudes towards French energy resources carried out by CSA for Publicis Consultants:

1. A wish to diversify energy resources and to increase energy independence

92% of the French population considers it is important to diversify energy sources produced in France as much as possible. While all population categories seem to agree on this point, it can be noted that respondents over the age of 30 are more in favor of such diversification than ar younger age groups (94% of the 30-49 age group, 93% of the people over 50 versus 87% of respondents under 30).

93% also consider it is important for France to be independent in terms of energy as well as to produce as much of its own energy as possible. On the contrary, only two out of ten French people (19%) think that it would be better to focus on one single source of energy.

2. Price is a main concern when choosing a source of energy, more so than environmental impact

62% of the French population said price was their most important criteria in selecting an energy source, the second being the environmental impact of this energy (57%). The safe use of energy (30%), the safety of production (24%) and the local production of energy (16%) came in next.

3. Shale Oil production in France would be acceptable if it contributes to lower the price of energy

Shale oil production in France would be accepted by 62% of the French population provided that it contributes to lowering the price of energy. Some areas of the population were more receptive than others to the idea of developing shale oil so as to lower the energy price: 73% of workers and employees agree with this idea while only 44% of the highest socio-professional category (“cadres”) thinks the same. Respondents under the age of 30 (69%) are also more in favor of production of shale oil production than those 50 years and older (56% in favor).

4. A strong preference to develop renewable energy sources

The French are overwhelmingly in favor of a development of renewable energies. At the top of their choices, solar energy (92% of the French would like to see an increase of the production in France). 81% wish the same thing for wind-driven energy and 69% also share this view concerning hydraulic energy.

5. A relative majority of the French are in favor of an increase of gas and oil production as part of a better ‘energy mix’

Diversification could also encompass fossil fuel production. Indeed, a relative majority of the French population is in favor of gas and oil development. Conversely, a majority favors reduction in energy sourcing from coal and nuclear.