• The former TotalEnergies refinery in Grandpuits wants to be converted into a biorefinery, coupled with a photovoltaic power plant and a hydrogen production unit, in particular, to produce "sustainable" aviation fuel with a lower carbon footprint than that of kerosene.

  • But the project as it is currently exposed presents gray areas, according to the Environmental Authority, which makes recommendations against the oil giant, in particular on atmospheric pollution and the management of waste which could flow into the Seine.

  • Another disturbing element, the organization noted during a visit to the site of hydrocarbon discharges outside the perimeter of the old refinery.

It is on paper a total reconversion.

The former TotalEnergies refinery in Grandpuits (Seine-et-Marne) is due to house a photovoltaic power plant, a hydrogen production unit and a biorefinery by 2025, which are supposed to green the oil giant's balance sheet.

But is this really the case as the project stands?

Not sure, according to the Environmental Authority, which sends TotalEnergies a whole list of recommendations in a notice made public this Friday, December 23.

The conversion project for this refinery in Seine-et-Marne, for more than 500 million euros of investment, was announced in September 2020. Fossil production has been stopped since 2021 but the site continues to make storage of petroleum products and unloading.

A 25-hectare photovoltaic plant was opened in October, which is part of the new project, which aims, among other things, to manufacture fuel from old recycled cooking oils and no longer from petroleum.

There will also be a plastic recycling unit and a biodegradable and recyclable plastic production site.

There is also enough to produce hydrogen, with the aim of producing “sustainable” aircraft fuel with a lower carbon footprint than kerosene.

A "Shadow Part"

The entire project must be approved by the State, which relies for this on the Environmental Authority, whose opinions do not have the force of law but are very listened to.

They are often used by judges for example in court decisions.

However, the opinion made public on December 23 identifies two major critical points: the effects on the soil and natural environments on the one hand, as well as the effects on the population via air pollution and noise pollution are insufficiently documented.

“We make recommendations when we have doubts about the way the project leader formulates things.

This means that the contracting authority has left some shadows, either because it was badly drafted or because he does not wish to give certain information", explains Philippe Schmidt, the president of the Regional Mission of environmental authority (Mrae) Ile-de-France.

Nothing on very fine particles, the most dangerous

The opinion of the Mrae recommends first of all to "carry out an assessment of the efficiency of the wastewater treatment facilities", to "put in place the necessary corrective measures if necessary as well as ecological monitoring in the Seine with regard to the anticipated releases.

Clearly, according to Philippe Schmidt, “on what will be done to evacuate the waste, we have very little information in the file”.

Secondly, the atmospheric pollution generated by the site is insufficiently documented, considers Noël Jouteur, the rapporteur of the opinion.

“The contracting authority is highlighting the reduction in nitrogen dioxide, sulfur and dust emissions.

The problem is that not all the pollutants have been measured", and in particular PM2.5, these fine particles of 2.5 microns in diameter or less which cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as cancers, and that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting.

Only PM10 is assessed by the project, yet PM2.5 is “even more harmful to health” according to the WHO because it can “cross the pulmonary barrier and enter the bloodstream”.



“There are discharges outside the perimeter of the site”

Finally, another disturbing element which invites the Mrae to challenge the public, during a visit to the site, the experts of the Environmental Authority realized that there was pollution with hydrocarbons around the factory. .

"The file tells us it's a clean factory that prevents pollution from overflowing, what we see is that this is not completely the case, there are discharges outside the perimeter of the site, it seems important to us that this be explained and repaired”, specifies Philippe Schmidt.

The Mrae appeals to the State services on this point, which have already checked the site.

The opinion of the Environmental Authority is in no way a "red light", which will put a stop to the TotalEnergies project, but the oil giant will have to justify itself.

As Philippe Schmidt summarizes, "even if legally Total is not required to follow us, it is required to respond to us".

Then charge the inhabitants, civil associations and whistleblowers of all kinds or even the State to seize it, if it deems insufficient justifications.

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