Gazel plans 230 job cuts in France following the closure of its coal plants

"It is planned to put an end to the activity of the Gardanne-Meyreuil coal unit at the end of the information-consultation and control phase by the administrative authority," said the company in a press release.

This coal-fired electricity production unit located in Gardanne (Bouches-du-Rhône), marked by a long social conflict, has not produced electricity for over a year and a half.

"Its return to service would require heavy investments, which the decision to close, no later than 2022, no longer make viable", underlines the management.

France wants to close its last four coal plants by 2022, a promise from President Emmanuel Macron which was included in the recent energy and climate law. This way of producing electricity is indeed very polluting.

On the other hand, the biomass unit present on the same Gardanne site would be "perpetuated" with a "potential" of 45 to 70 jobs in the long term.

Gazel Energie, a subsidiary of the Czech EPH group, also owns the Emile-Huchet coal unit, located in Saint-Avold (Moselle) in Lorraine.

"Its activity would be maintained until 2022, in order to meet the demands of the market and of the electrical system", indicates the management.

The latter mentions on the site a "potential" of 80 jobs linked to projects around the production of renewable heat and steam, the production of green hydrogen and e-methanol, supplemented by the development of photovoltaic parks.

The support services at the Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine) head office would also be "adapted" as a result of the stoppages in coal activity.

"In total, the project could lead to the elimination of 230 jobs", indicates Gazel, which promises to "ensure that each employee concerned finds a professional solution".

The company "will soon begin negotiations with the social partners, to define the terms of a job protection plan (PSE) with a period open to volunteering".