IN PICTURES – An open day to climb to the top of the Emile Huchet power station in Saint-Avold

Some have spent their entire career in this plant. “Almost all my life“, adds Jean-Marie, former employee of Emile Huchet in Saint-Avold. So to remember the good old days one last time, many of them came this Saturday to enjoy an open house. Because next March 31the production of electricity from coal, considered too polluting, should definitely stop to gradually make room for green hydrogen.

Possible extension

This winter, the Emile Huchet power station was already running at full speed, to compensate for a shortage of electricity. “Never have we produced so much, it’s a Swiss clock“, confided some employees during the visit. But the war in Ukraine could change the game and the government would consider a postponement of the closing date. “We can see that the subject is on the table“, explains Jean-Michel Mazalerat, the president of GazelEnergie, which operates the site.If we had to mobilize for the security of the system, we would be happy to mobilize“Even if it does not intend to slow down the transition to green energy. The distributor of the RTE network is currently carrying out a study, the conclusions of which will be released in the coming days.

Thus, the subject is on the lips of many visitors, including former employees, nostalgic. “It’s a shame that the center is closing“, explains Sylvain, almost with a tear in his eye. And when we take 92 meters high, on top of a boiler, the view looks beyond the German border. “The smoke in the distance is a German coal plant that will close in 2035, while we are in 2022“, laments the guide David.

Be that as it may, participating in this visit brings back fond memories. Even if, “it has changed a lot“, reminds Guy.”Before, there were sometimes close to 400 employees, it was moving everywhere. There, it’s weird to see this site so calm.” Guy who, like his former colleagues, wanted to show his old office to his relatives, before it changes time. “I learned a lot of things“, smiles Lina, whose husband and brother officiated on the spot.