The leader of a powerful oil group thinks a possible French ban on U.S. natural gas is an “aberration” in Europe and doesn’t anticipate other countries following France’s lead.
Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroluem Institute, brushed off concerns Friday about statements from French Energy Minister Segolene Royal about possibly banning the import of American natural gas.
“When you look at what’s going on, I can’t tell you the number of ambassadors to the United States who say, ‘Look, folks, whatever you do, give us your energy,'” Gerard said.
Royal told the French National Assembly Tuesday that she would look for ways to ban imports of shale gas, produced through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
France has banned fracking over concerns about potential environmental harm. Royal said she was questioning two large French utilities about why they were not more vigilant in accounting for how they obtained their natural gas, about 40 percent of which comes from fracking in the U.S.
Gerard said the French seem to be acting on their own. In conversations with other European officials, there is a large demand for American natural gas, he said.
“The French comment at this time is way different than what the broad group is saying,” he said.
