French oil giant Total to invest in UK shale gas

It was announced on the 13 January 2014 that French oil and gas company Total was to invest in the United Kingdom's shale gas industry. Total would be the first of the so-called 'oil majors' to invest in shale gas in the UK.

Despite being a controversial process for environmental reasons the announcement was welcomed by the UK government which championed shale gas as a major source of the UK's future energy needs.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that local councils that backed fracking would get to keep more money in tax revenue as part of an 'all-out' drive to promote drilling.

The EU’s Competition Commissioner, Joaquín Almunia, said that the Commission would investigate the UK’s plans for incentivising shale gas production 'if needed', as some lawmakers and NGOs called for an EU state aid probe to be launched.

ESO: Background information: Public opinion stands in way of EU shale gas revolution http://www.europeansources.info/record/public-opinion-stands-in-way-of-eu-shale-gas-revolution/

ESO: Background information: 'Generous' tax breaks for shale gas industry outlined http://www.europeansources.info/record/generous-tax-breaks-for-shale-gas-industry-outlined/

UK: Dept of Energy and Climate Change: Business and self-employed: Generating energy: Oil and gas exploration and production https://www.gov.uk/oil-and-gas-onshore-exploration-and-production

The Guardian, 11.01.14: French firm Total to join UK shale gas search http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/11/french-total-uk-shale-gas-exploration

Wikipedia: Hydraulic fracturing in the United Kingdom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing_in_the_United_Kingdom

BBC News, 17.12.13: Which UK areas offer the best potential for fracking? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25424687

BBC News, 13.01.14: Cameron promises councils 'fracking' tax boost http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25705550

UK: Gov.uk: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street: News, 13.01.14: Local councils to receive millions in business rates from shale gas developments https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-councils-to-receive-millions-in-business-rates-from-shale-gas-developments

UK: Gov.uk: Policies: Providing regulation and licensing of energy industries and infrastructure: Developing shale gas and oil in the UK https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/providing-regulation-and-licensing-of-energy-industries-and-infrastructure/supporting-pages/developing-shale-gas-and-oil-in-the-uk

UK: Department of Energy and Climate Change: Developing onshore shale gas and oil - Facts about 'Fracking', December 2013' https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270397/Developing_Onshore_Shale_Gas_and_Oil__Facts_about_Fracking_140108.pdf

EurActiv, 17.01.14: State aid row engulfs UK shale gas plans http://www.euractiv.com/energy/state-aid-row-engulfs-uk-shale-g-news-532827

ESO: Background information: Shale gas firms face binding law if they fail ‘scoreboard’ test / New regulations for the gas shale industry http://www.europeansources.info/record/shale-gas-firms-face-binding-law-if-they-fail-scoreboard-test-new-regulations-for-the-gas-shale-industry/

The Guardian, 17.01.14: Emails reveal UK helped shale gas industry manage fracking opposition http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/17/emails-uk-shale-gas-fracking-opposition

The Guardian, 20.01.14: Jose Bove pledges to help Britons resist Total fracking http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/20/green-mep-total-fracking-shale-gas

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