As part of the “Grand Canal du Havre” call for projects, through the conclusion of state titles, HAROPA PORT has awarded ENGIE 24 ha of land for the development of a benchmark platform for alternative new industrial fuels embodied by the Salamandre and France KerEAUzen projects. This award is an essential step in the development of these projects and the low-carbon transition of the industrial port zone (ZIP).

ENGIE and its partner CMA CGM, a world leader in sea transport and logistics, also confirmed the development of the Salamandre plant in Le Havre, the world’s first renewable gas production unit based on pyrogasification and methanation technologies for sea transport.

To meet the needs of the airline industry, ENGIE is to launch the feasibility study for France KerEAUzen, a synthetic fuel production unit based on a combination of renewable hydrogen and CO2 supplied by Salamandre and other local industries.

These are two major industrial projects, whose unique complementarity will contribute to the energy transition in France and decarbonization of heavy mobility in Europe.

These projects are fully in line with ENGIE’s development strategy and address a number of challenges:

• Re-industrialising the region through emblematic projects that create new industrial sectors of the future
• Helping to achieve decarbonization targets in hard-to-abate sectors such as sea and air transport.
• Contributing to French energy sovereignty goals
• Sustainability of the energy transition, based on existing infrastructures, networks, means of transport (ships and aircraft), ports and airports

Catherine MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE, said: “Salamandre and France KerEAUzen represent an unparalleled response to the need to decarbonise sea and air transport. These pioneering industrial units will also contribute to HAROPA PORT’s ambition to make Le Havre a benchmark platform for renewable fuels, as part of a circular economy approach that will benefit regional development. We are proud and delighted to be developing these promising solutions in France, in partnership with customers who are French leaders in their sector, CMA CGM and Air France-KLM, and thus accelerating the transition to carbon neutrality.”

Christine Cabau Woehrel, CMA CGM Group Executive Vice President, Industrial Assets and Operations, commented: “CMA CGM is delighted to see this major project for the production of renewable gas come to fruition, the result of an unprecedented partnership between major French industrial companies. Salamandre is an example of our Group’s partnership approach to achieving its Net Zero Carbon objective by 2050. We are delighted that this project is taking shape in Le Havre, thanks to the support of HAROPA PORT. By joining forces, ENGIE, Air France-KLM and CMA CGM intend to contribute to the emergence of a French renewable gas industry, essential to the decarbonization of sea and air transport activities.”

Anne Rigail, Chief Executive Officer of Air France, declared: “Air France-KLM is accelerating its decarbonization trajectory by activating all the levers at its disposal. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will be the decisive lever in decarbonizing the sector, which is why Air France-KLM is working to set up a French SAF industry. By joining the France KerEAUZen project, Air France-KLM is committed to working alongside ENGIE to study the feasibility of these synthetic fuel production units, which will take over from aviation biofuels in the years to come. ”

For Édouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre and President of the Le Havre Seine Métropole urban community, ” This massive investment in the production of alternative fuels and biomethane is excellent news for Le Havre! Our industrial region is positioning itself as a pioneer in the transition to carbon neutrality, which is essential if we are to combat climate change and resource depletion.”

“We are proud to be working with ENGIE on two emblematic projects, Salamandre and France KerEAUzen, located in Le Havre, on a strategic turnkey site, helping to make the Seine Valley an exemplary region in terms of reindustrialization, decarbonization and ecological transition. HAROPA PORT, a major player in decarbonization in France, is continuing to build the Seine axis green corridor, combining economies of scale, a virtuous industrial ecosystem and decarbonized logistics,” adds Stéphane Raison, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of HAROPA PORT.
Final investment decisions are expected by 2024 for Salamandre and by the end of 2025 for France KerEAUzen, with construction starting in late 2024 and by 2026 respectively, subject to planning permission and support programmes.