ecological and energy transition, Partenariats, development : CMA CGM and ENGIE open a new chapter for biomethane production in Le Havre

Three years after HAROPA PORT allocated 24 hectares on the Grand Canal site in Le Havre to ENGIE, the partnership between ENGIE and CMA CGM is reaching a new milestone. The two groups have announced the development of a biomethane production unit aimed at supporting the decarbonisation of maritime transport.The project will also generate new maritime flows linked to the transport of feedstock required for biomethane production. This announcement is part of a broader strategy led by HAROPA PORT to promote resource recovery and renewable energy production across the Seine corridor, as illustrated by the biomethanisation plant currently under development in Gennevilliers.

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To the left: Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group. To the right: Catherine MacGregor, CEO of ENGIE.©CMA CGM / ENGIE

A new ambition for biomethane in Le Havre

ENGIE and CMA CGM have signed a framework agreement to develop a biomethane production facility at the heart of Le Havre’s industrial-port area.

From 2029 onwards, the facility is expected to supply 7,000 tonnes of biomethane per year, equivalent to around 100 GWh, to fuel the French shipping group's fleet. The project is expected to avoid nearly 23,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

The biomethane produced will be derived from organic waste. In addition to generating renewable energy, the process will also produce 100,000 metric tons of digestate that can be used as a natural fertilizer. Produced locally, this fertilizer will help strengthen the country’s food security by offering an alternative to imported fertilizers.

Building on the Grand Canal momentum since 2023

This announcement builds on a dynamic already underway within Le Havre’s industrial-port area.

In 2023, ENGIE was selected as the winner of HAROPA PORT's call for projects for the Le Havre Grand Canal site. A temporary occupancy agreement covering 24 hectares was subsequently signed to host two industrial projects dedicated to the energy transition: Biocéane (ex SALAMANDRE) and France KerEAUzen.

A project supporting maritime traffic and circular economy

Beyond the production of renewable fuel, the project illustrates the growing role of circular economy initiatives within industrial-port areas.

Organic waste will be transported by sea to the facility. The project will therefore contribute to the development of new cargo flows within the port area, with around 40,000 tonnes of goods expected to be handled each year.

A complementary project to France KerEAUzen  

The biogenic CO₂ captured from the future Biocéane unit will be supplied to the France KerEAUzen project, which aims to produce synthetic fuels for aviation and green chemistry applications using renewable hydrogen and captured CO₂ from the industrial-port area.

The France KerEAUzen partners target a production capacity of up to 70,000 tonnes of e-kerosene per year while recycling up to 290,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, including approximately 13,000 tonnes of biogenic CO₂ generated by the biomethane facility

Learn more about France KerEAUzen 

HAROPA PORT, enabling tomorrow’s energy industries

The announcement by ENGIE and CMA CGM confirms HAROPA PORT’s appeal as a hub for circular economy projects and new energy sectors serving the maritime and aviation industries. The availability of land, logistics infrastructure, maritime connections, and proximity to major industrial players create favorable conditions for the development of complex projects that require space, networks, and synergies among stakeholders.

This strategy is being implemented across the entire Seine corridor. In Gennevilliers, construction has begun on the future biogas plant led by Syctom and Sigeif. This biogas facility, located on the multimodal port platform, will eventually process 50,000 metric tons of food waste per year to produce biogas that will be fed into the Île-de-France gas network. It is scheduled to begin operations in July 2027.