"There is a clear problem of launches in 2023 and 2024. We are clearly in deficit", recognizes Marie-Anne Clair, director of the Guiana Space Center (CSG), in Kourou.

A drop in production linked to the end of Ariane 5, the delay of Ariane 6, the sudden shutdown of the Russian Soyuz launcher after the invasion of Ukraine, but also the suspension of the Vega-C program in December after the failure of its first commercial flight, explains to AFP the leader of the "European spaceport".

However, the light launcher, for which the conclusions of the commission of inquiry commissioned after its failure are expected in February, was to compensate in 2023 for the transition between Ariane 5 and 6, with at least two launches.

As a result, the CSG is only planning at this stage for the last two Ariane 5 flights this year, before the change of launcher planned for the last quarter of 2023.

"There will inevitably be operational and social consequences", announces Emmanuel Pradié, Deputy CEO of Europropulsion, a subcontractor specializing in the integration of solid propellant engines.

"As long as Vega-C and Ariane 6 are stopped, things will be complicated," said Michael Rimane, employee of this company.

"On February 17, we must deliver the last engine. After that, we will be on technical unemployment. Currently, we are 39 employees at Europropulsion. We were 70 two years ago".

Staff reductions linked to the economic crisis but also to the structural transformation of the base, considered uncompetitive.

The arrival of Ariane 6 should make it possible to rationalize manufacturing costs with, for example, the mass production of the P120 boosters, common to Ariane 6 and Vega-C, to reduce the selling price of launchers by 40%.

"Our offer, which is also commercial, must be more interesting and attractive. The objective is to reduce the recurring costs of operating the base and selling launchers. This reduction will not happen without a reduction in the workforce. within the CSG", warns Marie-Anne Clair.

Opening of negotiations

A meeting took place on January 17 with the unions (FO, UTG, CDTG and CFE-CGC) from the base.

"Out of 40 subcontracting companies, around fifteen would be affected by the degreasing and 200 to 300 jobs threatened out of 1,600", indicates Jean-José Mathias, UTG delegate of the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes), the operator of the base. of Kourou.

The European light launcher Vega-C © Aude GENET / AFP

Negotiations with the unions should lead to the signing of an agreement in April to propose alternative solutions to dry layoffs.

Avoid forced departures, "I'm not sure we'll get there," warns Marie-Anne Clair.

“It is also up to the manufacturers to propose solutions, Cnes is not the employer of all the employees who work on the base”, recalls the director of the CSG.

For Sébastien Savreux, representing CFE-CGC Arianegroup, it is however up to the principals to assume "their role as social moderators" and to the State to "offer aid" to "encourage voluntary departures" and "accompany the decreased activity".

“The problem today is how to finance this support?”, adds Christophe Dupuy, CFE-CGC Arianespace delegate, who refuses that employees are “the only adjustment variable”.

“250 employees is still 20% of the total workforce” of the base.

“Unemployed employees will find it difficult to find a job given the lack of industries in Guyana,” he notes, fearing a “domino effect” on the rest of the economy.

Because although the share of space in Guyana's GDP halved between 1990 (24%) and 2019 (12.6%) under the effect of the diversification of the economy, the sector remains a driving force in a territory affected by high unemployment.

In 2019, it represented one in twelve jobs in Guyana and one in six in the private sector, as well as 40% of imports and 83% of exports, which include satellites put into orbit from the CSG for French or foreign companies.

© 2023 AFP