The Cordemais coal power plant, located in Loire-Atlantique, has become a point of contention between local parliamentarians and the French government. Eight deputies and senators have sent an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, urging him to reconsider the planned closure of the plant by 2027. They describe EDF’s decision to abandon a green conversion project for the site as a betrayal of the presidential promise.
The letter’s signatories, including France Insoumise deputies Ségolène Amiot and Matthias Tavel, and socialist deputies Karim Benbrahim and Fabrice Roussel, are especially critical of the move. Four senators, including Karine Daniel (PS) and Ronan Dantec (Ecologist), are also backing this initiative, highlighting the power plant’s importance for the region’s energy supply.
In September 2023, Emmanuel Macron had pledged that the Cordemais plant, one of the last two coal-fired plants in France, would be fully converted to biomass by 2027. The conversion project, known as Ecocombust, was intended to use wood waste pellets as a replacement for coal. However, in September 2024, EDF announced it would abandon the project, citing high costs and uncertainties about its long-term viability.
A loss for the region
The parliamentarians warn that closing the plant would deprive the Pays de la Loire region of its most powerful dispatchable electricity production unit, referring to facilities that can adjust their output based on demand. The Cordemais plant is a cornerstone of regional electricity production, and its closure could create an imbalance in local energy supply.
Furthermore, the economic impact is another concern for the lawmakers. They estimate that the closure would result in the loss of 350 direct jobs at EDF, in addition to around 120 subcontractors who regularly work at the site. The parliamentarians believe that these job losses will not be offset by the industrial project that EDF is proposing as a replacement, namely the production of components for future nuclear power plants by its subsidiary, Framatome.
A challenge for energy transition
Beyond the economic and social issues, the closure of the Cordemais plant raises questions about France’s energy transition strategy. The biomass conversion project was seen as a compromise between reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving local jobs. By abandoning this project, EDF is undermining the presidential commitment to balance ecological and economic goals.
The parliamentarians accuse the government of incoherence in its energy policy. The closure of Cordemais comes at a critical time for France, which is working to reduce its carbon emissions while ensuring energy security. For the lawmakers, converting the plant to biomass represented a viable solution both environmentally and industrially.
