Unions at the Cordemais coal-fired power plant have issued a strike warning and are demanding that EDF CEO Luc Rémont come to the plant to explain the abandonment of the biomass conversion project. The Cordemais coal-fired power plant in the Loire-Atlantique region is facing a major union mobilization.
The CGT, CFE-CGC and FO unions have issued strike notice covering the entire winter period.
They are protesting against EDF’s decision to abandon the Ecocombust project, aimed at converting the plant to biomass.
The employees are demanding that EDF CEO Luc Rémont appear before them to explain the decision directly.
The unions believe that abandoning the Ecocombust project jeopardizes the future of the plant and local jobs.
“We don’t accept that the president’s word has not been heard,” says Fabien Deschamps, CGT delegate.
In September 2023, President Emmanuel Macron had announced the conversion of France’s last coal-fired power plants to biomass by 2027.
The Cordemais employees feel betrayed by this U-turn.
Concern over future jobs in Cordemais
EDF’s decision has raised serious concerns about jobs at the Cordemais site.
The unions fear that abandoning the conversion project will lead to the definitive closure of the plant, resulting in job losses.
“We’ve got to stop selling us dreams and making us believe that everything will turn out all right,” asserts CGT representative Sébastien Bellomo.
Employees are demanding concrete guarantees for their professional future.
EDF has proposed an alternative project involving the manufacture of piping for the EPR 2 reactors via Framatome.
However, the unions are skeptical about this solution.
“This project was not planned for us and is not at all prepared,” stresses Sébastien Bellomo.
They believe that this alternative will not compensate for the job losses associated with the shutdown.
Unions keep up the pressure on EDF
In addition to the strike notice, the unions have decided to continue the site requalification tests.
The aim is to demonstrate the plant’s ability to continue producing electricity while complying with environmental standards.
“We want to show that we can do the job,” explains Sébastien Bellomo.
The employees hope to convince EDF to reverse its decision.
When asked about the situation, Luc Rémont asserts that the EDF Group will work with all employees to ensure their future.
“They will all be offered a future within the EDF Group,” he declares.
Nevertheless, these assurances are not enough to reassure the unions, who are waiting for firm commitments.
They call on the CEO to come and explain himself directly on the Cordemais site.
National context and outlook
The closure of coal-fired power plants is part of the national energy transition strategy.
However, the abandonment of the biomass conversion project calls into question the commitments made by the government.
The Cordemais employees recall that President Macron had supported this conversion, seen as a solution for preserving jobs while meeting energy challenges.
Internationally, the UK is preparing to close its last coal-fired power plant at the end of September.
This global trend is increasing the pressure on sites like Cordemais.
The unions are calling for genuine consultation to find lasting solutions.
They insist on the importance of maintaining industrial activity on the site, which is crucial to the local economy.
The situation at Cordemais illustrates the challenges associated with the energy transition, particularly in terms of jobs and industrial conversion.
Future decisions by EDF and the government will be decisive for the future of the site and its employees.
The unions remain mobilized and expect answers that are equal to the stakes.
