Paris City Council opposes oil drilling project in Seine-et-Marne

The mayor’s office, headed by Anne Hidalgo, expressed its concerns in a press release, describing the project as a “potential environmental disaster”. Eau de Paris, the city’s water operator, has lodged an application for interim relief with the Melun administrative court, seeking suspension of the prefectoral order of January 30 authorizing new works on the Nonville concession.

Implications for drinking water

According to Dan Lert, Deputy for Ecological Transition and President of Eau de Paris, this project jeopardizes the security of water supply for 180,000 inhabitants of Paris and Seine-et-Marne. The catchment sites concerned are in Villeron and Villemer, near the drilling site.

Reply from Bridge Energies

Bridge Energies, in charge of the project, holds a concession until 2034 and already operates three wells in the region. The company plans to add two new 1,500-meter deep wells following a public inquiry that led to several recommendations from the Environmental Authority to prevent environmental risks.

Government position and reactions

The Ministry of the Economy has chosen not to comment on this matter. However, Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy, had previously approved a similar project in Gironde, despite the 2017 law providing for a gradual ban on hydrocarbon exploitation in France by 2040. For its part, Greenpeace France has strongly criticized the government’s approval of new fossil fuel projects, pointing out a blatant contradiction with France’s climate objectives.

The drilling project at Nonville is generating strong opposition from local authorities and environmentalists, highlighting the tensions between ecological ambitions and economic interests in the management of France’s natural resources.