TOTAL to Recommence Danish Shale Operations

Total SA has received approval to recommence its search for shale gas in Denmark following a suspension ordered by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA).

The Danish regulator had imposed a halt to shale gas exploration in north Jutland, less than two days after Total started its activities. According to local media, the French company used a chemical which was not authorised in the environmental guidelines defined by the municipality where the operations were taking place. 

The DEA noted it had received a “satisfactory” statement from Total in which the company “described how it will ensure that no future error occur by introducing a number of new procedures to control the handling of chemicals”.

Total holds two exploration licenses for shale gas in Denmark - the Nordjylland exploration license that runs to 2016 and a second around the country’s capital Copenhagen which is equally valid until 2015. In both licences, the French company cooperates with Nordsøfonden.