Total threw down a challenge on shale gas to the incoming administration of Socialist President Francois Hollande when it called Monday for a fresh look at rules barring exploration and production of unconventional energy resources in France.
In a one-line reference, which appeared to stem largely from frustration with policies pursued by the outgoing center-right government of President Nicolas Sarkozy, Total's upstream president Yves Louis Darricarrere complained that energy companies were not even able to check whether there actually is any shale gas in France.
In a wide-ranging speech at the opening of an energy conference in Paris, Darricarrere did not elaborate on this point and left the event before he could be questioned.
Hollande is due to take office on Tuesday while France is due to hold parliamentary elections, which will significantly affect the shape of his government, next month.