French Lawmakers Back Shale Gas Ban

Lawmakers in France's lower house of parliament gave preliminary backing on Wednesday for a total ban on shale gas exploration and extraction.

 

However, it is not certain that the ban will go to the Senate and return to the lower house for a final vote before parliamentary work is suspended in February so lawmakers can campaign for a legislative election in June.

 

The conservatives, which have a majority in the Senate but not the lower house, are opposed to the ban, which would come on top of an ban in place since 2011 on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.