Cordemais Coal Plant: Worker Strike Highlights Uncertain Future

The restart of the Cordemais coal plant, planned to address the cold wave, has been halted by a strike. Workers oppose the scheduled closure and demand guarantees for their future.

Partagez:

The restart of the Cordemais thermal coal plant in Loire-Atlantique was blocked this week by its workers. Planned to meet an anticipated cold wave in France, the temporary restart was disrupted by a strike organized by employees. The site’s unions, including CGT, FO, and CFE-CGC, have declared their refusal to resume operations until concrete guarantees about the industrial future of the site are presented.

EDF, the operator of the plant and a company wholly owned by the French state, announced in late September the cancellation of the Ecocombust project. This initiative aimed to convert the plant to biomass to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using wood waste pellets. However, EDF deemed the project economically unviable, setting the plant on course for permanent closure by 2027.

A Contested Industrial Transition

According to the unions, the industrial conversion proposals put forward by EDF fail to meet workers’ expectations. The company plans to transform the site into a manufacturing hub for nuclear plant pipes, in collaboration with its subsidiary Framatome. This project is expected to create only 100 to 200 jobs, significantly fewer than the current 500 positions, 340 of which are directly linked to plant operations.

In a statement, the unions affirmed that “not a gram of coal will be burned until further notice,” calling for “credible plans for the site’s industrial future.” They also criticized the lack of communication over the past two months, which pushed the workers’ assembly to unanimously vote against restarting operations.

A Tense Energy Context

The Cordemais plant is one of the last two remaining coal plants in France, alongside Saint-Avold in Moselle, operated by GazelEnergie. These facilities operate only occasionally to handle peak electricity demands. In 2023, Cordemais accounted for just 0.1% of French electricity production but remains crucial during high-demand periods.

President Emmanuel Macron had initially supported converting the plant to reconcile energy transition goals with preserving local employment. However, the decision to abandon Ecocombust has disrupted this balance, exacerbating tensions between EDF and its workers.

Limited Prospects

For the local community and officials, the issue extends beyond electricity production. The plant, which provides 500 direct and indirect jobs, is a cornerstone of the regional economy. While manufacturing nuclear components offers an alternative, it is perceived as insufficient to sustain the current industrial base.

EDF, for its part, insists that discussions with trade unions are ongoing. For now, however, dialogue remains stalled, and the future of Cordemais, along with its workforce, remains uncertain.

Ireland ends four decades of coal-based electricity production by converting its Moneypoint power plant to heavy fuel oil, now exclusively reserved for the balancing market until 2029.
China's coal imports dropped 18% in May, driven by historically low domestic prices and significant growth in national production, shifting the country's energy market dynamics.
India’s unprecedented drop in power demand led to a sharp decline in coal-based generation in May, while renewable energy output reached a record high.
Greenpeace data shows a renewed wave of coal projects in early 2025, as renewable capacity surpasses thermal energy for the first time.
Financial giant BlackRock highlights economic and strategic risks linked to an antitrust procedure backed by Washington, targeting major asset managers accused of conspiring to reduce coal production in the United States.
Adani Power will supply 1,500 MW to Uttar Pradesh through an ultra-supercritical coal power plant built under the DBFOO model, at a tariff of Rs 5.383 per unit.
A satellite analysis led by Ember and Kayrros shows that methane emissions from Australian mines are 40% higher than official reports, revealing significant gaps in the current coal sector monitoring.
Donald Trump issues several executive orders aimed at reducing regulations on the U.S. coal industry, addressing economic expectations from coal-producing states while securing national energy supply.
Backed by Chinese funding, Zambia and Zimbabwe are reviving coal projects in contrast to international energy sector trends.
New coal-fired electricity capacity added in 2024 dropped to 44 GW, driven mainly by China and India, according to a report released on Thursday.
Finnish energy company Helen has halted operations at the Salmisaari plant, the country’s last coal facility, halving its carbon dioxide emissions in one year.
An independent study suggests that the Hail Creek mine may emit up to eight times more methane than reported in Glencore's official disclosures.
Eskom has connected Unit 6 of the Kusile coal-fired power station, adding 800 MW to the national grid amid efforts to stabilise electricity supply in South Africa.
The Indian government presents a project to create a coal exchange for the domestic market, a measure aimed at improving transparency and regulating the local coal market.
The United States has announced its withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa, thereby reducing the country’s international financial commitments in its gradual exit from coal.
Indonesia sets a floor price for coal to strengthen its control over domestic prices and influence international markets. This new strategy will take effect on March 1, 2025.
Indonesia continues to strengthen its dependence on coal, jeopardizing its greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments. This paradox is highlighted in a recent report, emphasizing the tension between environmental goals and economic realities.
Australian mining giant BHP saw its net profit multiply fivefold, reaching $4.4 billion, despite an 8% drop in revenue. Sustained demand and signs of recovery in China strengthen its outlook.
In 2024, China began building new coal power plants, a decision that threatens its goal of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030, according to a report published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
By the end of 2024, coal's share in Australia's electricity generation dropped below 50%, a historic first, thanks to the surge in solar energy production.