The file relating to the future of the waters of Orezza saw significant progress this Wednesday, November 6. The steering committee created to reflect on the future modalities of exploitation of this source belonging to the community of Corsica, met in Rapaggio, under the chairmanship of Gilles Simeoni, the president of the executive of Corsica.
At the end of an hour and a half of discussions, this body, which included the mayors of Castagniccia, company employees and representatives of the local associative world, validated the principle of a change in legal model .
From February 23, 2025, operation of the site will no longer be ensured by SNEEMO – the private company holding a rental management contract since 1998 – but by a cooperative structure created for this purpose: a cooperative company of collective interest (SCIC).
“More than profit, added value”
“In this legal form, the idea is not only to be in search of profit, explains Gilles Simeoni. It is to create added value, that is to say, to allocate profits to the company's reserves to prepare for the future and in particular the modernization of the production tool; and then, around a territorial project, to redistribute the benefits for the benefit of territorial stakeholders.”
According to our information, the share capital of the future SCIC should be distributed as follows: 40% to the CdC, 10% to the group made up of the 14 municipalities of Castagniccia and the Casinca-Castagniccia intermunicipality, 20% to the employees, 1 to 3 % to associations in the microregion, and the rest to financial partners – banks – involved in the operation.
In order to guarantee control of governance by the Corsican Community, the distribution of voting rights on the SCIC board of directors would be a little different: 50% to the CdC, 10% to the municipal block, 20% to employees 10 % to associations, 10% to financial partners.
“There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work.”
“I am very satisfied with the cooperative system that was chosen, rejoices Stella Pieri, the mayor of Rapaggio, the town where the source is located. We have a common interest in making this new model work. If we all work together, there’s no reason it can’t work.”
It is difficult, however, to know whether the same satisfaction is available on the side of employees. “Until the vote of the Corsican assembly, all this remains in the draft state, indicates the company's STC delegation. Until then, we do not wish to comment.”
A useful reminder. Because the creation of the cooperative structure, validated during this steering committee, will only take place after a favorable vote from the Corsican Assembly. The report must in principle be submitted for approval to the territorial councilors during the next session, on November 28 and 29.
