Total confirms shale gas investment in Britain

PARIS, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Total TOTF.PA confirmed on Monday that it had acquired a 40 percent stake in two shale gas exploration licences in the United Kingdom.

Its partner, Dart Energy DTE.AX had earlier announced that Total would spend about $48 million on the project in the East Midlands region.

Total is the first major oil company to back shale gas exploration in Britain, a country seen as one of Europe's strongest prospects for unconventional oil and gas development.

(Reporting by Leila Abboud; Editing by Dominique Vidalon)

((leila.abboud@thomsonreuters.com)(+33 1 49 49 51 82)(Reuters Messaging: leila.abboud.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)(Twitter: @labboudles))

Keywords: TOTAL SHALE