In the large shed, dust escapes from the shovelfuls of clinker. This mixture of limestone and clay, cooked at a very high temperature, is one of the basic components of cement, which the brand new Rhône Ciments factory started producing in 2021, in Portes-lès-Valence (Drôme ).
“At the beginning of 2021, we were three, and today 24, retraces Magali Laurenço, the director of the site. With the resumption of economic activity post-Covid, we have started strong. » A good omen, as the objective of reindustrialising the country was unanimously accepted by the candidates of the last presidential election… as well as those in the current legislative elections. Story of a successful industrial establishment, rich in lessons.
Rhône Ciments is, after the opening of a factory in Tonneins (Lot-et-Garonne) in 2018 and then a warehouse in Sète (Hérault) in 2019, the third centerpiece of an industrial “young shoot”, Cem ‘In’Eu, founded in 2014 by former cement industry executives. “They thought of a specific model, explains Magali Laurenço, by consolidating upstream transport and reducing its carbon impact. Reactive to our customers’ requests, our small factories are close to them. »
Use river and rail
Believing in the establishment of new industrial sites presupposes method, starting with identifying the ideal location. To the south of Valence, already well served by the A7 and A49 motorways, the proximity of the Rhône suggests that Cem’In’Eu managers contact the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), concessionaire for the development of the river on behalf of the state. “We have felt, for about four years, an expectation of reindustrialization combining mass logistics and transport that emits less CO2testifies Pierre Meffre, port development director of CNR. Cem’In’Eu, wishing to use river and rail, is part of this logic. »
In fact, in addition to the boats, several trains “hang” each week between Tonneins and Portes-lès-Valence, carrying on board containers filled with clinker stored in Sète, after having been produced in Turkey: the operations therefore do not require of road transport. The financing of the 400 meters of railway linking the port of Portes-lès-Valence to the plant is covered by Cem’In’Eu. A temporary occupancy agreement binds Cem’In’Eu, CNR and the State for twenty-five years, but its signature is only the beginning of an adventure that will take several more months.
Sesame
Because you have to reckon with the administrative work. “Once the place was booked, we had to anticipate the regulations that were going to apply to us”, recalls Yasmina Pilet, quality, safety and environment director, while detailing: “Check if the neighborhood includes Seveso sites; contact the departmental fire and rescue service; study the risk of submersion…” In this exercise, nothing is as useful as meetings, which help, for example, to ensure that the planned plot is not in a flood zone, contrary to what is indicated in the local urban plan (PLU), unrevised for a long time.
Because at least two sesames are necessary to open a factory: the building permit from the town hall, and the recognition, compulsory, as “installation classified for the protection of the environment” (ICPE). “Each of the two authorizations is composed of sub-categories which can enter into dialogue, deciphers Yasmina Pilet. For example, we had to meet environmental requirements – ensure gas dilution away from buildings – while keeping the site below the maximum height of 27 meters set by the PLU. »
Avoid, reduce, compensate
The manufacturer, the only one to have a global vision of his project, must absolutely anticipate the stages, ensure reminders. Since 2017, he has dealt with a single interlocutor, within the regional directorate for the environment, planning and housing (Dreal), which is responsible for instructing the ICPE part. This is subdivided into two parts. “We had a good command of the first, which is industrial, even though there are specific programs on dust emissions in the Rhone Valley, explains Magali Laurenço. We also had to comply with noise standards and ensure that our processes did not contaminate rainwater. »
The League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), accustomed to supporting companies to which the CNR has granted permission to set up, is working with Cem’In’Eu on the second, environmental aspect. “It’s about ensuring that the implementation is done as well as possible., according to the ERC triptych, that is to say “avoid, reduce, compensate””, points out Julie Coutout, of the LPO.
The director meets the inhabitants
For Cem’In’Eu, the challenge is not to disturb the blue wild thyme, a protected species of butterfly. To do this, the company postpones the construction project in order to preserve hedges, “bites” on another plot… If the relations between the company, the LPO and the CNR are imbued with trust, the discussion was « intense »remembers Yasmina Pilet, before finding a satisfactory compromise.
At the end of these projects, it remains for the industrialist to make himself known. The public inquiry commission, which collects all questions related to the new factory, is supplemented by presentations of the project to the municipal councils of the five municipalities close to this already industrialized area of Portes-lès-Valence. The director of the subsidiary even takes care to explain the project to the few inhabitants of the area, accustomed to being surrounded by factories.
As for the recruitment project, it is not necessarily simpler, even if the municipality of Portes-lès-Valence wants to provide support via a recruitment unit. Rhône Ciments trains its own staff (operators, machine operators, etc.) but does not easily manage to hire on permanent contracts and retain staff.
“It seems that temporary work or fixed-term contracts offer flexibility for young people who have less desire to commit, explains Magali Laurenço. We haven’t tried work-study work yet because the factory is still too new, but that may come later. »
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The key figures of French industry
The manufacturing industry generates 223 billion euros of added value in France, or 10.2% of French GDP. It has 2.8 million employees, that is to say 11.1% of total French salaried employment.
France is the 7e global industrial power, and the 3e industrial power in Europe, just behind Germany and Italy. Export of manufactured goods
generates 436.4 billion euros and represents 3.5% of world exports.
There are just over 210,000 industrial companies in Franceincluding 81 large companies, 1,600 medium-sized companies (ETI), nearly 23,000 small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), and more than 190,000 very small companies (VSEs).