The Vicat cement plant in Montalieu-Vercieu, ranking among the 10 most polluting sites in France, could soon capture 1.2 million tons of CO2 annually under a newly detailed decarbonization plan known as Project Vaia. Stéphane Séjourné, vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy of the European Commission, visited the Isère site on September 10 to discuss the initiative with regional officials and corporate executives, according to local reporting.
Project Vaia Funding and Decarbonization Targets
Project Vaia has secured 331 million euros in combined public subsidies from the European Union and the French state, according to regional reports. The initiative was selected as part of the French government’s “Grands projets industriels de décarbonation” call for tenders. Vicat aims to slash its greenhouse gas emissions at the Montalieu-Vercieu facility between – 89 % and – 90 % in tonnes CO2 per year by 2030. Achieving this target relies on improving energy efficiency, reducing the clinker content in cement, and capturing carbon emissions directly from the plant’s smokestack.
Engineering Logistics and Carbon Transport
The venture remains in the engineering study phase, with a formal investment decision expected in 2027, according to company disclosures. Total project financing for Vicat is projected to land between 600 and 900 million euros. Captured carbon will be liquefied and transported via an existing and newly constructed pipeline network—including 25 kilometers of new pipes in Isère—to Marseille before shipping out to the Adriatic Sea. Éric Bourdon, deputy general manager at Vicat, notes that lifecycle analyses indicate total emissions tied to capture, pipeline pumping, liquefaction, and maritime shipping account for less than 5 % of loss. Bourdon estimates that 200 000 tonnes of the captured carbon could be utilized by other industries, while an million de tonnes would be stored beneath the ocean floor.
Production Capacity and Regional Economic Impact
The cimenterie currently operates at roughly 70 % of its total production capacity, according to Laurent Meurette, industrial director for France at Vicat. Project Vaia is intended to restore output to the full volume of 2 million tons per year while allowing the company to expand its geographic market reach using low-carbon transport methods. Jean-Yves Brenier, president of the Les Balcons du Dauphiné community of communes, expresses strong support for the endeavor, noting that the cement plant accounts for 80 % of the territory’s total CO2 consumption.
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