The site encountered regulatory difficulties. Where do things stand now?
Ludovic TONNEVY: It is true that the Saipol plant in Grand-Couronne has been subject to inquiries by authorities. This has been taken very seriously, and mostly concerned non-compliance issues already identified and being corrected, administrative improvements, and difficulties encountered during the start-up of new installations. This scrutiny by the authorities is never pleasant, but it is also an opportunity to progress.
Concretely, what does the Saipol plant in Grand-Couronne produce?
L. T.: Our core activity is vegetal transformation. We exclusively process rapeseed, giving priority to French origin, supplemented with imports depending on seed availability and our customers’ needs. These seeds are valorized through several outlets: vegetable oils for human consumption, protein-rich meal for animal feed, and renewable energy for transport decarbonization.
Our industrial know-how is based on controlled processes, rigorous traceability, and strong team commitment to sustainability. They are proud to contribute to an agro-industrial sector that creates value for farmers, for the local area, and for the energy and food transitions of our customers. That’s also what gives meaning to our investments: they are not just about meeting obligations, but about building a more responsible industry.
Ludovic TONNEVY
Director of the Saipol Grand-Couronne plant
What investments have been made at the Saipol plant in Grand-Couronne?
L. T.: Over the past five years, numerous investments have been carried out on the site. They have addressed improvements in our energy and environmental footprint, reduction of nuisances, and ongoing safety upgrades in our processes.
The list is long. For example: installation of a turbine to produce energy from surplus steam, acoustic and olfactory studies and investments to reduce noise and capture atmospheric emissions, renovation of our water treatment plants and stormwater treatment devices, optimization of high- and low-pressure boilers, complete renovation of fire protection for the main crushing building, and investments linked to the ongoing improvement of safety under our WeCareAssets program. In total, this represents a significant financial effort of more than €55 million, of which 60% relates to site maintenance and environmental, territorial, and regulatory concerns.
Are these works completed?
L. T.: Many of the projects are already completed. Others are underway or scheduled in the coming months. For example, upgrading our second sewage treatment station is planned for November. The objective is full regulatory compliance by the first quarter of 2026. We already observe a marked improvement in our indicators, which shows the installations are stabilizing.
These are major projects that take time to execute — from detection of the need, design and costing, through to actual implementation. On a facility like ours, which operates year-round, the largest investments are generally planned year to year and executed during technical shutdowns. In addition, there are maintenance and improvement tasks for our installations on a daily basis: it is the work of our teams to integrate these projects into the life of the plant with a great deal of agility.
How are the teams experiencing this transformation?
L. T.: The teams are meeting these challenges with professionalism. They are the ones driving change on a daily basis. They have been trained, involved in diagnostics, and supported in implementing solutions. I commend their commitment — it is thanks to them that we prioritize projects and move forward.
What message would you like to convey to local residents and stakeholders?
L. T.: We do not seek to minimize the past difficulties. They have been real and full of lessons. On behalf of the teams, I want to convey how committed we are to returning quickly to regulatory compliance, with seriousness and transparency. Industry is evolving, and we evolve with it, investing for safer, more responsible, more sustainable production.
Moreover, this is a sector that offers promising career prospects for young people, with the particularity at Saipol of valorizing the vegetal. We are attached to our territory, to our agricultural partners, to preserving our environment, and to satisfying our customers. This project is demanding, but it is meaningful.
