- Total (TOT +0.2%) says it dispatched a ship to begin drilling off French Guyana's coast within the next few days, assuring the operations will not damage coral reefs in the area.
- TOT says drilling would take place 30 km (19 miles) from the closest reef and in an area without coral; activists say delicate coral reefs in the area risk being damaged by the drilling operations.
- The company says French Guyana authorities have provided clearance to begin drilling and plans to carry an offshore perforation program with transparency and "invites NGOs, who wish to do so, to visit its installations to understand the precautionary measures."
- Last Friday, Brazil's environmental regulator denied TOT a license to explore nearby offshore Brazil areas, which are located in proximity to the area of the planned French Guyana drillings.
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