Vermilion plans to drill eight new wells to “ to reach previously unexploited oil reserves » on the Cazaux site, where around fifty wells are already active, with production currently estimated at 1,500 barrels per day.
At the end of the public inquiry conducted from August 28 to September 26, the investigating commissioner received 102 contributions, “ reflection of the public’s legitimate concerns regarding the major issues linked to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming », We can read in his report.
If she recognizes “ concerns certainly heightened » following the monster fires of 2022 which ravaged 7,000 hectares of the La Teste-de-Buch forest, the commissioner notes that no local resident has reported “ serious malfunction » or “ major nuisance » linked to the Cazaux concession.
Saying he did “ abstraction of general considerations on the future of oil extraction in France » beyond 2040, it also notes that “ oil that was not produced in France would certainly be imported with a much higher environmental cost “.
End of hydrocarbon exploitation in 2040
An opinion criticized by Vital Baude, regional advisor Europe Ecologie-Les Verts (EELV), who says “ heartbroken, dismayed » by the opinion rendered. “ This argument which consists of saying that we are going to make short circuits of oil to pollute less, I find it incredibly cynical », Reacted to AFP this municipal councilor from Arcachon.
For him, it is particularly symbolic that this favorable opinion is given when the European Copernicus observatory has just reported, for the first time, an excess of more than 2°C, over one day, of the global average temperature. compared to the seasonal average in the pre-industrial era.
The Vermilion file is now in the hands of the prefect of Gironde who must issue an order authorizing or refusing the project. The executive passed a law in 2017 which provides for the gradual cessation of the exploitation of hydrocarbons by 2040. The Vermilion group, the leading oil producer in France with 130 employees, is the holder until January 1, 2035. of the Cazaux concession, operated since the 1960s.
