Roland Lescure in favor of the project of new oil drilling in Gironde

Asked if he was "in favor", the minister replied: "Yes, and for a simple and good reason: we voted for it", he said on France 3 in the program Dimanche en politique. “I am for” the green light from the State for this drilling, he added later.

He recalled that a law was passed in 2017 providing for "the total end of oil extraction by 2040 in France", "the first country" to adopt such legislation.

“This means that by 2040, we will continue to extract a little oil in France”, but “not much”, estimated the minister, adding regarding the employees who work in these industries: “I cannot I can't tell them, we'll stop everything overnight."

According to Roland Lescure, "whistleblowers, like (environmental activist) Greta Thunberg, were extremely useful", she "woke up" some who "needed it". But “I think the time for whistleblowers has passed a little, now we are taking action,” said the minister. So “yes, we are gradually getting out of hydrocarbons”.

The Canadian group Vermilion Energy, holder until January 1, 2035 of a concession operated since the 1960s, in La Teste-de-Buch, near Arcachon, plans to drill eight new wells there to "reach reserves previously unexploited oilfields" on the Cazaux site, where around fifty wells are already active, with production currently estimated at 1.500 barrels/day.

After a public inquiry, the investigating commissioner issued a favorable opinion at the end of 2023. The prefect of Gironde must now issue an order authorizing or refusing these eight new wells.