Overview
- The Senate approved the proposal 227–105, advancing a measure from Senator Georges Patient to lift parts of the 2017 Hulot law for overseas territories.
- Environment Minister Monique Barbut announced a formal negative opinion and Economy Minister Roland Lescure argued against the text during debate, highlighting a split with Overseas Minister Naïma Moutchou who supports it.
- Environmental groups condemned the move as a step backward for climate policy and a threat to ecosystems in territories that host most of France’s biodiversity.
- Previous exploration off French Guiana by TotalEnergies produced no conclusive finds, and officials and reports cite deep-water costs, geological uncertainty and long timelines for any potential production.
- The bill now heads to the National Assembly where the executive intends to block it, with no assurance it will be scheduled for debate soon.