France - Total win Montelimar appeal

The administrative court of Cergy-Pontoise have today ruled in favour of Messrs Total in respect of the permits initially cancelled following the introduction of the anti-fracking law 'loi Jacob' in July of 2011. The company are permitted to pursue 'exploration' and refer to 'alternative methods'. Clearly the law, which was reluctantly introduced by the Sarkozy government and diluted somewhat at the last minute did not exclude all possibilities. The permis in question are referred to as the Montelimar permits.