"Total Chief Warns Against Arctic Drilling: FT"

"Energy companies should not drill for crude oil in Arctic waters because the environmental risks are too high, Total SA Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie said in the Financial Times on Wednesday."

"The newspaper described de Margerie's comments as the first time a major oil company has publicly criticised offshore exploration in the Arctic.

The risk of an oil spill in such an environmentally sensitive area was simply too high, according to de Margerie."

Stephen Mangan reports for Reuters September 26, 2012.

SEE ALSO:

"Special Series: Arctic Ocean vs. ANWR" (Alaska Dispatch)

"Democratic Senators Want a Stop To Arctic Drilling" (McClatchy)

"Exxon Makes Plans To Drill Near Atomic Waste Dump in Arctic" (Bloomberg/Anchorage Daily News)

"Even As the Ice Melts, Drilling in the Arctic Gets Tougher" (Washington Post/Wonkblog)

"Environmentalists Get Surprising Ally in Arctic Drilling Debate" (Wall St. Journal)

Opinion: "Arctic Oil-Drilling Delays Allow Time for a Safety Review" (Bloomberg View)

"Major Energy Firm Speaks Out Against Arctic Oil Drilling" (E2 Wire/The Hill)

"Listening to the Arctic" (Aljazeera)

"Shell Takes Greenpeace To Court To Halt Demonstrations Against Arctic Drilling" (AP)

"Arctic Drilling: U.K. Environmental Audit Committee Urges Action Amid Oil Spill Concerns " (AP)

"Gazprom's Arctic Drilling Delayed Again" (Reuters)