The project for a new dam on the Rhône has been abandoned, announced the Compagnie nationale du Rhône (CNR) in a press release published on Friday 30 August. The project, called “Rhônergia”, would be located between the departments of Ain and Isère, about forty kilometres upstream from Lyon. The aim was to build, by 2033, a 22-kilometre long reservoir, between the municipalities of Loyettes (Ain) and Saint-Romain-de-Jalionas (Isère). The dam would create a 6.8-metre-high waterfall to produce 140 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy per year, corresponding to the annual electricity consumption of 60,000 inhabitants.
The decision was taken by the State. According to the Directorate-General for Energy and Climate (DGEC), the dam would have caused an interaction incompatible with the operation of the new generation reactors planned at the current Bugey nuclear power plant in Ain.
Built in 1974, the power plant is located a few kilometers upstream of the dam project and its cooling system is linked to the river level. Preliminary studies have suggested “technical risks in the Bugey EPR2 project, which could have led to increased costs and a delay in the schedule of this project, and possible concerns regarding the operational safety of the existing nuclear power plant”said the DGEC in a written statement sent to AFP.
90% negative reviews
In addition to this “main reason” On a technical level, the State services underline the opposition expressed against “Rhônergia”. “The guarantors’ assessment of the prior consultation highlights objections to the dam project, particularly linked to environmental aspects”writes the DGEC.
Supported by the CNR at the request of the State, the “Rhônergia” project, with a planned budget of 330 million euros, was the last possible hydroelectric dam in France, in the last wild section of the Rhône. According to its promoters, it could contribute to the country’s energy independence, by using a carbon-free production method. The CNR manages nineteen hydroelectric dams along France’s largest river. Its strategic arguments were not at all convincing at local level. Strong opposition to the project has emerged, denouncing a negative environmental impact far greater than the supposed energy benefits.
The preliminary consultation, carried out by the national commission for public debate, received more than 90% of negative opinions among the 1,300 people consulted, including local residents, elected officials and economic actors in the sector in question. A citizens’ group has counted more than 8,500 signatures on its petition against the project, warning of the consequences in terms of biodiversity in an ecosystem that is home to hundreds of protected species. Several hostile slogans to the project, signed by the Earth Uprisings, appeared on posters and roundabouts, raising fears among the authorities that the protests would spread. The “Rhônergia” project has become a sensitive issue in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region over the months, drawing criticism from environmentalists.
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