The French utility Électricité de France (EDF) has confirmed its intention to establish a new industrial unit at its Cordemais site, in Loire-Atlantique, by 2028. This move comes as the utility plans to cease electricity production from coal at the facility from 31 March 2027, in line with the energy-climate law adopted in 2019.
The future facility, dedicated to manufacturing nuclear pipework, will be developed by Framatome, a subsidiary of EDF specialising in nuclear equipment. EDF stated that the factory will ultimately employ up to 200 workers. The group confirmed that feasibility and construction studies are already underway on site.
An industrial response to the post-coal era
The conversion of the Cordemais site follows the cancellation of the Ecocombust project, announced by EDF in September 2024. That project aimed to convert the coal plant to biomass, but was abandoned due to unviable technical and economic conditions. EDF maintains its aim of preserving long-term industrial activity at this strategic location on the Atlantic coast.
Cordemais is one of the last two operational coal plants in France, along with Saint-Avold (Moselle). With the planned shutdown of both units, EDF will permanently end coal-fired electricity production nationwide.
Union criticism and local tensions
The industrial reconversion has not eased local concerns. The Fédération nationale des mines et de l’énergie – Confédération générale du travail (FNME-CGT) described the move as a “reckless decision” and denounced “total disregard for local communities and workers”. The union criticised EDF for offering no viable local redeployment solutions and raised concerns about the social consequences for employees and their families.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister François Bayrou, eight left-wing members of parliament elected in Loire-Atlantique condemned what they described as a “false conversion plan”. They argue that the project does not offer an alternative low-carbon energy production method. The lawmakers called for renewed dialogue between the government, local authorities and trade unions, citing regional challenges linked to energy security and growing electrification.
Impact on the Grand Ouest region
The CGT warned that the permanent closure of the plant would deprive the region of a strategic dispatchable power source, at a time when the Grand Ouest is facing increasing grid vulnerability marked by high power outage rates. The union fears that conditions will worsen with the closure, given the absence of any confirmed replacement capacity.
EDF, for its part, stated that personalised support would be provided to employees affected by the shutdown, to help them transition professionally within the scope of this industrial reorganisation.
