A Swiss gas trading company has received permission to drill for gas in Lake Geneva, raising the prospect of derricks appearing at the foot of the Alps, Swiss news agency ATS reported Wednesday.

Local authorities in the village of Noville, on the southeastern edge of the lake, gave the company, Petrosvibri, the final go ahead to erect a derrick and search for gas in the autumn.

Swiss media reported that the 20 million Swiss-franc project (13.1 million euros, 18.1 million dollars), which is due to be presented next week, would allow a 61-metre high derrick in Noville to drill up to three kilometres beneath the lake.

The original project had sparked strong objections from environmental groups, but the final planning opposition was dropped in June.