Lhe EMME project for a nickel and cobalt conversion plant for electric mobility was invited to the Parempuyre municipal council on Monday September 30. In the public, first of all. Large signs hostile to the industrial project were brandished at the start of the session to say “no to concrete”, “no to a Seveso factory in a flood zone”, “no to ecocide in progress”, a fourth calling for the organization of a local referendum.
“Your signs don’t bother me. I simply remind you that any expression is only reserved for elected officials during a municipal council,” Mayor Béatrice de François immediately reacted, inviting the silent demonstrators to address the right people. “EMME is a project led by the State and supported by the President of the Republic during the Choose France summit. »
Mayor Béatrice de François reiterated the City’s position while awaiting complete studies.
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However, “he deserves all our attention,” said the elected official. This is why the project leader comes to hold public meetings and changes things as he goes along.” The mayor recognizes a “significant risk” for the environment with sulfate salts miscible in water. Regarding other dangers (risk of explosion and fire), “it’s like any other building, nothing more, nothing less”.
Economic benefits
Béatrice de François is waiting to have all the analyzes to decide. “I have neither the date nor the day, but these analyzes must be completed when the building permit application is submitted. The other evening, the project leader talked about October or November. At that time there will be a public inquiry. » Beyond the environmental aspect, the elected socialist admits that it will also be necessary to weigh up when the time comes the economic benefits for Parempuyre.
“EMME is a project carried out by the State and supported by the President of the Republic during the Choose France summit”
A little later, the Municipal Council was to issue an opinion on the procedure for evaluating Local Urban Plan 3.1 over the period 2016-2022. The conservation of quality habitat and the preservation of resources were among the axes. The opposition took advantage of the opportunity to put the subject back on the table. “The arrival of EMME does not respect these guidelines. A Seveso factory with a high threshold in a wet and flood-prone area in the heart of a Natura 2000 zone and close to the Médoc Regional Natural Park seems inappropriate to me,” commented Frédéric Bernard, applauded by the public.
Other Seveso site
Marked by the double absence of Henri Lagarrigue and Jean-Marc Farthouat, the main opposition group reacted with the voice of Nicole Lalanne. She put forward various arguments pointing to the environmental consequences of the production of nickel and cobalt then denounced a lack of information. Hence the call for the organization of public meetings with neutral experts. “We regret that the state of risks presented is confined to the offices of decision-makers. Why not use one of the 700 Seveso sites that already exist? » And the opposition representative cites Pauillac, Ambarès-et-Lagrave or Normandy, close to gigafactories. “Ah yes, especially not at my house,” says the mayor, referring to the Nimby syndrome (Not in my backyard). “Doesn’t financial attraction, which remains to be proven, prevail over reason? » asks Nicole Lalanne, referring to the loss of 1,600 jobs at the battery manufacturer Northvolt.
