Some would say it’s a shame, but with inflation and skyrocketing energy prices, even dying is going to cost more. There are only two crematoriums in Côte-d’Or. That of Dijon which is operated by a national company, and that of Semur-en-Auxois managed by a family business. It is not the same size, but all both will be forced at the end of the year to increase their rates.
Has Dijon, the OGF company
promises that the increase in its fares will not exceed inflation. It must be said that it has strong shoulders to weigh against gas suppliers because it operates 80 crematoriums in France and has just renegotiated its contracts for 2 years.
OGF organizes 2,000 cremations a year in Dijon. This year more than one out of two families (57%) chose this mode of burial. This continuous activity makes it possible to maintain the 3 ovens at temperature and thus to save energy. “The more cremations we have, the less energy we consume” observes Valerie Huet, project director at OGF. “It is the start of the oven that consumes the most, the law requires reaching at least 650° C for a cremation. In Dijon, our equipment takes a long time to come down in temperature, we take advantage of this inertia.”
In Semur-en-Auxois the family business Girard
organizes 500 cremations a year and runs what would be the smallest crematorium in France. Relief, this family does not have to renegotiate its gas prices this year, but is worried about the mandatory maintenance, entrusted to subcontractors for filtration and maintenance. There too she expects a increase in line with inflation. “There is a snowball effect” explains Loïc Girard-Becq, one of the directors. “What is more expensive in maintenance is necessarily found on the final note. We will do our best to limit the additional costs, because we are the only equipment of this type in the north of the Côte-d’Or. Our customers extends to Avallon and Troyes, but we must remain competitive. In our country, 40% of families choose this mode of burial.”
Currently a cremation costs 827 euros in Semur-en-Auxois, and between 500 and 700 euros in Dijon depending on the services offered. In both cases, the new rates will be voted on by local elected officials (community of agglomeration for Dijon and community of communes for Semur en Auxois), because the crematoriums remain public facilities.