French President Francois Hollande has again ruled out exploration for shale gas during his presidency. The comments come as a French court was due to examine an appeal against a government ban on "fracking".
France has some of the most plentiful reserves of shale gas in Europe, but there are objections to shale exploration on environmental grounds.
"As long as I am president, there will be no exploration for shale gas in France," Mr Hollande told French TV.
France's top court was this week due to examine a challenge to the ban on fracking - the process by which shale gas is released - by Schuepbach Energy, which held two exploration permits that were cancelled when the law was passed in 2011.
TVNL Comment: How rare.... an elected official who hasn't sold out to the drillers. Wake up, America.... you're being fracked to death.
A powerful storm doused California with heavy rain on Friday, prompting evacuation warnings as the state...
As Hurricane Melissa crept closer to Jamaica on Monday, Oct. 27, the island nation braced for...
The US Senate rejected an effort on Wednesday to halt a contentious US Fish and Wildlife...
Melissa intensified into a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 25, as it continued its slow slog across...
