Seine-et-Marne: why Total wants to stop refining at Grandpuits

DECRYPTION

The Total group will stop refining activities on the site of the Grandpuits refinery, in Seine-et-Marne, and must announce a conversion project on Thursday, AFP learned from a union source on Tuesday, confirming information from

.

The information must be made official on Thursday with the presentation of the project by management to the elected officials of Total's CSE.

If the CGT fears job cuts, internally, it is ensured that the objective is to reconvert the site, and not to close it. 

A reconversion of the site and not a closure

First of all, there is a general context: that of a foreseeable fall in the need for refined products with the growing attraction of the French for cars with hybrid or electric engines.

The other aggravating factor is the appearance last year of a leak on the pipeline that carries oil from the Le Havre terminal to the Grandpuits site.

But if Grandpuits should announce the shutdown of the site, it is not a question of closing it.

Grandpuits will be converted to a new activity, a source familiar with the matter told Europe 1 on Tuesday, and investments will be made.

This new project should be greener.

Should we be worried about employment? 

But will employment be maintained?

The CGT evokes the elimination of 250 positions.

This is refuted by our source which recalls the precedents of the refineries of Carling (near Metz) and La Mède (near Marseille), where the reconversion of the sites did not cause any layoffs, but only retirements and mobility internal.

"No one loses their job at Total when there are industrial developments," she told Europe 1. 

>>

Find all the newspapers of the editorial staff of Europe 1 in replay and podcast here

But on the side of the union, we fear a voluntary departure plan and forced transfers.

In the local CGT site, David Picoron is afraid that Total is using ecology as an excuse.

"The fear is that Total just wants to showcase without worrying about the sustainability of the site or employment, display a beautiful showcase because it's fashionable," he explains.

We have to produce greener, you won't hear me say it's negative, he continues.

The debate is on the transition.

There it is brutal, we are suspended from what they will tell us tomorrow ". 

How is the population reacting there?

At Grandpuits, the announcement is rather well received, provided that the jobs are actually kept.

But the ecological argument is more attractive, while the refinery is visible from all the gardens.

"Compared to what we breathe, why not!" Reacts a resident.

"Casually, it would be less dangerous for us who live nearby," admits another.

And a third to add: "If it is a very ecological project, obviously we will not complain about it". 

Jean-Jacques Brichet, the mayor of Grandpuits, remains cautious.

He himself worked in the refinery a few decades ago.

"The result is still the jobs and behind the economic benefits. It's still important for the territory."