Paris (Platts)--3May2012/732 am EDT/1132 GMT

France could reconsider its ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing in the exploration of shale gas if the technique can be proven to be safe, French economy minister Eric Besson said Thursday.

Speaking at the 13th International Oil Summit in Paris, Besson said the subject was not closed in France.

He said that so far, shale gas explorers had been unable to prove that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was not harmful to the environment.

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"That doesn't mean the subject is closed -- it could be reopened tomorrow," Besson said, adding that by tomorrow he meant over the next few years.

But this would only happen if operators "can prove the safety of the technique."

France last year imposed a ban on fracking because of fears over its environmental impact.

Oil major Total was hit as it has a shale gas exploration operation in France.

Speaking at the same conference, Total CEO Christophe de Margerie said companies were looking at how to prove its safety.

"We have to improve the way we produce [shale gas]," he said.

He added that the company was looking at developing shale gas in China.

--Stuart Elliott, stuart_elliott@platts.com
--Kate Dourian, kate_dourian@platts.com

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