French Parliament to discuss Frack Ban, Consider banning all unconventional oil & gas developments by any technique!

French Parliament to Discuss Fracking Ban by Kevin Bonnaud, January 23, 2017, naturalgasworld.com

Just 100 days before the presidential election, the shale gas debate makes the headlines again in France, as parliament this week considers an amendment of the mining code to ban any development of non-conventional hydrocarbons by any technique.

The last time shale gas opponents strengthened the anti-fracking law was in 2011, when they banned hydraulic fracturing but allowed exploration for the purposes of scientific research or through potential alternative techniques.

The amendment, passed by the environment commission of the National Assembly on January 17, was presented by several socialist lawmakers including Sabine Buis… The congresswoman from Ardeche, an area where exploration permits were granted to Total and Schuepbach in 2010, was one of the architects of the mining code reform  aimed at enhancing the environment dialogue and making the process more transparent.

“It’s a belt and braces approach, an added precaution to the existing law which only makes mention of the hydraulic fracturing technique,” Buis said in an interview with a local radio station on January 18.

The socialist lawmaker was asked whether it would be a lost opportunity if an alternative technique was found in the future. “We are being told for a while that another technique would be developed but it has not happened yet. It would still be fossil fuel. It would be a regrettable choice not to pull out all the stops on renewable energy,“ she added.

Royal: ‘Shale gas is behind us’

France’s energy and environment minister Segolene Royal reacted to the commission vote on January 18 after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace. “The issue of shale gas is behind us,” she told reporters. The former presidential candidate who ran against Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 went further while defending clean energy policies set during Francois Hollande term as president. “France will no longer deliver permits to explore or exploit fossil fuels energies especially offshore licenses. We are sending a message to companies to invest in renewable energies, energy efficiency, France’s new energy model,“ Royal added.

The minister response does not a come as surprise. In March 2016, Royal promised to include a ban of non-conventional hydrocarbons developments in the mining code reform following the legal decision to reallocate to Total a permit owned by the oil company but repealed after the implementation of the fracking ban in 2011.

The bill might never become law

Though only one reading will be required by both chambers of the parliament, the bill may not be able to pass before the end of the legislative session at the end of February. The ongoing session will be shortened because of the election season. France’s presidential contest will be held on April 22 and May 6. The control of the National Assembly will be up for grabs in June. The centre-left Socialist party could lose both the presidency and the parliament majority. If so, the bill may be shunted aside for a long time.

Most politicians on the right support shale gas exploration including Francois Fillon, the right wing presidential candidate. “We cannot bar researchers from looking for new technologies. A state that limits the opportunity for research in any area has lost its common sense. A researcher must always be able to research. It does not mean we are going to conduct shale gas operations to run our power plants,” he told BFMTV on November 18.

… Just over three quarters (77%) of French citizens oppose shale gas developments in the coming years, according to a recent poll.  [Emphasis added]

[Refer also to:

2016 03 02: BETWEEN 7,000 & 15,000 ATTEND ANTI FRACKING RALLY IN FRANCE AFTER ADMINISTRATIVE COURT RE-AWARDS COMPANY 4,327 SQ KM PERMIT

2016 02 29 gaz-de-schiste-montelimar, thousands protest administrative court reawarding total permit

Source: Stop Gaz de Schiste

2015 12 31: Another Court Ruling: France will remain frac free

2015 04 07: Frac industry pushing France with old lies to sneak in fracing; Promoting extremely dangerous, toxic, financially ruinous gelled “non-flammable” propane fracs as “safe, clean and green” non-fracs!

2014 04 05: France: Court bans US company Hess from drilling for fear of fracking and cancelled drilling permit despite the company’s promise not to frac

2014 03 04: French energy CEO of energy giant Total says ‘God willing’ France will frack

2014 02 01: France: ‘Clean fracking using untested non-flammable propane’ is Trojan Horse, designed to make fracing seem OK

2013 12 20: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Says It’s Unconstitutional For Gas Companies To Frack Wherever They Want; Act 13, Gas Industry Takeover Law thrown out by State’s Highest Court

“By any responsible account,” Chief Justice Castille wrote, “the exploitation of the Marcellus Shale Formation will produce a detrimental effect on the environment, on the people, their children, and the future generations, and potentially on the public purse, perhaps rivaling the environmental effects of coal extraction.”

2013 11 29: France Says No to Hess Energy Exploration’s Bid to Frac Paris Basin, Report by Lawmakers say France Should Allow Fracking

2013 11 12: French coalbed methane drilling presents risks even without fracking: joint study published by France’s national geological & environmental agencies

2013 10 13: Frackez-vous: French court passes ultimate fracking ban; France’s Fracking Ban ‘Absolute’ After Court Upholds Law, Frac ban in France is constitutional, Judgement: Schuepbach Energy LLC

2013 09 24: French Court to Decide Whether Fracking Ban Is Constitutional

2013 07 14: French president vows no fracking while he is president

2013 07 14: French Fracking Ban Should Be Eased to Assess Shale Reserves

….Energy Minister Delphine Batho rejected any move to relax the ban, citing “considerable” environmental damage in the U.S. caused by the method. Earthquakes, aquifer pollution, heavy metal contamination, increased truck traffic and damage to the countryside are consequences of fracking, the minister said in a radio debate. “The U.S. has invented environmental dumping,” Batho said. “Gas prices in the U.S. don’t take into account the cost of environmental damage that future generations will have to pay.” [Emphasis added]

2013 06 07: EU Consultation on Unconventional Fossil Fuels in Europe finds many respondents saying shale gas and other unconventional fossil fuels need to be kept out of Europe

2013 05 25: Scientists warn that Earth faces severe water shortages within a generation

2012 08 29: France to Keep Shale Ban Until Fracking Alternative Emerges

2012 08 27: French PM: Shale gas future not settled, The question of tapping of shale gas reserves in France — where hydraulic fracturing is banned — is not yet resolved, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says

2011 07 01: France Vote Outlaws ‘Fracking’ Shale for Natural Gas, Oil Extraction

2011 06 30: France Becomes First Country to Ban Extraction of Natural Gas by Fracking

2011 05 13: France bans ‘fracking’ after months of protest

2011 05 11: France to ban fracking of fossil fuels ]

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