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Brief history of the territory (France)
St.Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France, the only remnant of the former empire of New France that remains under French control. It is located in the NW Atlantic Ocean at the entrance of Fortune Bay near the Grand Banks, 25 kms from the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland.
There were no inhabitants when Europeans arrived in 1520. The islands were made a French possession in 1536 but were not settled until the end of the 17th century. By the early 1700s, they were again uninhabited and were ceded to the UK in 1713.
The islands repeatedly changed hands until 1816 when France took permanent possession. They became an overseas territory in 1946 and acquired the status of a territorial collectivity in 1985.
Locals depend on fishing and servicing fishing fleets off the coast of Newfoundland but, since 1992, the economy has been in steep decline, following the depletion of fish stocks.
Fish farming, crab fishing, agriculture and tourism are being developed to diversify.
Oil and Gas Summary
St. Pierre and Miquelon is composed of 8 islands of which 2 are inhabited. St. Pierre is the commercial centre but Miquelon-Langlade is the largest island. The territory is part of the northern end of the Appalachian Mountains along with Newfoundland and Labrador.
Onshore geology is not suitable for the generation and accumulation of commercial volumes of oil and gas, however the limited offshore waters may have sedimentary successions analogous to those productive off Newfoundland.
No exploration wells have been drilled in the offshore waters due to the harsh climatic environment and remote location. There is also an ongoing dispute with Canada over maritime boundaries.
The country has no identified indigenous oil or gas resources. Globalshift believes that the territory is unlikely to achieve any production in the short, medium and, probably, long term future.
ST PIERRE & MIQUELON
Map and National Flag
NORTH AMERICA
Sunset
North America
Capital
Population
Land area (sq kms)
Oil prod (000s b/d)
Gas prod (bcm/yr)
Oil cons (000s b/d)
Gas cons (bcm/yr)
St. Pierre
0.01 mm
242
None
None
1
None
Government
Since 2003 St. Pierre and Miquelon has been an overseas collectivity with special status.
Locals possess French citizenship, sending a senator and deputy to the National Assembly in France that appoints the Prefect to represent the government.
The local legislative body is the Territorial Council with 19 members. France is responsible for defence and law and order.
There is no department of local government specifically responsible for oil and gas resources.