the project is still delayed, the prefecture explains

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On the website of Ballast pitssouth of Toulouse, thousands of tons of explosives have been stored underground for decades. More precisely, nitrocellulose powder, also called fulmicoton : a material used en masse until the First World War before dynamite was preferred.

The project of rehabilitation of the place, started in 2021, continues… slowly. In a press release issued on November 28, 2024, the prefecture takes stock of the situation. And spoiler, it's not very different from last year.

4,200 tonnes of explosives stored “risk-free” according to the State

On November 27, 2024, the prefect of the Occitanie and Haute-Garonne region Pierre-André Durand held the fifth meeting of the monitoring committee of this major project. It aims to safely evacuate the 4,200 tonnes of explosives, stored for 110 years.

However, these old powders would only present little danger according to the Ministry of the Armed Forces. The owner of the site reminded that they “do not explode in the open air” and are “without risk for local residents and the environment”.

Protection of fauna and flora

Another challenge: preserving the biodiversity “exceptional” of the site. According to the prefecture, knowledge of the environmental context is a prerequisite for carrying out the work, in order to protect the numerous plant and animal species, as well as their natural habitat.

“The environmental wealth of the site is growing strongly,” mention the authorities. The results of the studies showed the presence of new speciesin particular red squirrels and certain species ofbirds.

Still on the environmental aspect, “nitrocellulose is not soluble in water and is not a chemical pollutant”, the prefecture also wishes to reassure.

No major progress in 2024

Regarding the treatment and the clearancenothing new. Three “innovative processes” have been the subject of pilot tests in recent years, two of which are conclusive, which the prefecture had already announced at the end of 2023.

To rehabilitate the banks of Ballastièresthese ponds where nitrocellulose powder is stored, an “in-situ” treatment process was to be tested during a pilot test in 2024.

The operation was aborted due to “ immaturity apparent of the proposed technology”, as well as “thelack of guarantees regarding its safety” with respect to the environment. As for which technique will ultimately be used, a mystery. The prefecture has taken “new steps”, the press release vaguely indicates.

Finally, negotiations were conducted to provide land useful at the construction site, around the site. The acquisition of the land, which was to be finalized this year, has also been postponed until 2025.

In 2025, new studies and a call for projects

The contracting phase of the rehabilitation work, which was to begin at the end of 2024, is postponed to the first quarter of 2025. State services will launch a call for applications to select industrial candidates who will ultimately lead the destocking operations.

At the same time, the authorities will carry out new preliminary studies, complementary to those already carried out, necessary to understand the hydrogeological functioning of the site.

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