France: Hollande Faces Pressures to Reverse Shale Stance

Presure continues to mount on the French President François Hollande to reverse his policy against shale gas exploration.

Le Figaro has suggested that at a time of rising energy prices, the development of France's shale gas prospects should perhaps be reconsidered.  The newspaper says the decision United Kingdom and Poland to proceed on shale gas exploration more or less undermines the French argument that extraction method of hydraulic fracturing will contaminate fresh water resources

Le Figaro notes that plentiful, cheap shale gas has provided for an economic resurgence in the United States, resulting in a shake up the petrochemical industry worldwide. 

Hollande recently reiterated that there would not be shale oil and shale gas exploration during his presidency.

In a television interview following Bastille Day celebrations, the French President said: "As long as I am president, there will be no exploration for shale gas in France."

Comments by Industrial Renewal Minister Arnaud Montebourg had set off the recent debate on unconventional oil and gas extraction.

Montebourg commented that he would like to see a state-owned company involved in “ecological” exploitation of shale gas or gaz de schiste.

“We could come up with the technology in a very short time to be able to exploit the gas ecologically,” said Montebourg

France's Constitutional Council, which has has the power to annul laws it deems to be unconstitutional, will be hearing a challenge to the 2011 ban on hydraulic fracturing, in an appeal launched by Schuepbach Energy

Schuepbach held two exploration permits that were canceled in 201I