TAKE KAIR : the consultation confirms the region's interest in the project

In the light of the discussions and opinions expressed during the preliminary consultation, Hynamics confirms its desire to continue developing the Take Kair project in the region. The elected representatives of Donges, Saint-Nazaire and the Pays de la Loire region who took part in the consultation gave their support, emphasising the project's role in the port area's decarbonisation initiative (ZIBaC). 

Following the example of the CNDP's guarantors in their assessment, Hynamics has identified several topics of interest to the public and stakeholders:

• job creation, opportunities for industrial synergies and the project's contribution to the economic development of the Saint-Nazaire industrial area were cited as the major positive points of the plant's arrival;
• the project's contribution to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector was the subject of many positive comments, but also of questions which Hynamics and the participants in the ‘Decarbonisation of the aviation sector’ round table on 27 February 2025 endeavoured to answer during the discussions;
• the resources required for the project (electricity consumption, water, CO2), safety issues, environmental impacts and the scope of the consultation were also points of concern raised, to which Hynamics will pay particular attention in the development of the project.

The qualitative analysis of the consultation looks back at the opinions expressed during the consultation and provides responses and clarifications from Hynamics, the Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire and RTE.

Hynamics has taken note of the expectations expressed during the consultation, which were also highlighted by the CNDP's guarantors in their report, and will endeavour to integrate them into the project's future. Its document ‘Bilan et enseignements du maître d'ouvrage’ (Project owner's report and lessons learned) goes into detail on several major points:

• the quantities of hydrogen stored, the quantities of water required and the process chosen: the environmental permit application file (DDAE) will provide the details requested on these subjects, which will be made available to the public;
• analysis of the project's life cycle (its environmental impact from construction to dismantling): Hynamics has commissioned its R&D (Research and Development) department to have its LCA calculation certified by an independent third party by the time the DDAE is submitted.
• environmental impacts: studies will be made available to Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port and work will be undertaken with local associations to identify environmental compensation sites
• employment, training and subcontracting: Hynamics wishes to continue the dynamic begun with stakeholders during the consultation process
• ongoing information: the project website will be upgraded to allow ongoing consultation, with the appointment of a contact person, the possibility of asking questions via a form or an e-mail address, and regular updates of the FAQ.

Organised from 16 December 2024 to 9 March 2025, the preliminary consultation involved local residents, associations and economic players. Some 200 contributions were collected, using a variety of formats for discussion and participation: 10 face-to-face meetings were organised (2 information meetings, 3 local meetings, 2 meetings dedicated to stakeholders, 2 thematic round tables and 1 summary meeting), involving several hundred people;

• The participatory space on the project website received 52 contributions, including 8 stakeholder booklets, and the project team received 3 postal notices (T-vouchers);
• Finally, the project owner met with 21 representatives of 13 environmental and local associations and 43 representatives of 35 companies and economic, industrial and academic institutions.

Under the aegis of the CNDP's guarantors, Hynamics has endeavoured to make a full range of tools available to the public so that everyone can obtain information and participate effectively in the consultation process. The consultation file and its thematic sheets, the quality of which was underlined during the consultation, were essential productions that will accompany the project even beyond the consultation.  The richness and diversity of the points of view expressed show that the effort made to explain highly technical subjects in layman's terms has proved its worth.

In accordance with the recommendations of the CNDP guarantors, Hynamics will organise a public meeting in the third quarter of 2025 to present the report of the guarantors, the lessons learned from the consultation and the responses to the requests for clarification and recommendations made by the guarantors. The setting up of a monitoring committee will be discussed with the guarantor(s) of the ongoing consultation. The issue of risk prevention will be examined in greater depth as part of the work of the future monitoring committee, in conjunction with the stakeholders concerned. 

In addition, Hynamics will propose that at the information meeting to be organised at the opening of the public enquiry by the appointed investigating commissioner, the guarantor of the ongoing consultation process be present to make the link between these two legal stages in the life of the Take Kair project.

The Commission nationale du débat public (National Commission for Public Debate) is an independent administrative authority responsible for guaranteeing the public's right to information and participation in development and infrastructure projects with a significant impact on the environment and society.

The results of the public debate can be consulted on the public debate website : https://www.takekair-concertation.fr/blog/2792/les-documents-de-la-concertation

Ms Mireille AMAT, Guarantor domiciled in Pays de la Loire I mireille.amat@garant-cndp.fr

Mr Bernard PACORY, Guarantor domiciled in Pays de la Loire I bernard.pacory@garant-cndp.fr