Hervé De Greef responsable environnement et Rémi Muth prestataire.
The end of the work is announced for the end of April or July 2026. The work began on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The former Mobil refinery has the particularity of being located a stone's throw from the city center.
Where are we at with the rehabilitation work on the former Exxon Mobil wasteland ? “We are in the process of remediating it” explains Hervé De Greef, head of the environmental department at Esso. Its mission ? To dig the 11 hectares of land of the site under construction “to bring it back to a state where it can be used for different purposes within the framework of a local urban plan” (PLU). This could be residential or commercial use. “And here in this case, we are carrying out remediation to be able to guarantee the use of this land for industrial purposes” adds the environmental manager.
Future reconversion
As a reminder, the work began on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The end of the work is announced for the end of April or July 2026. “I have no concerns about the outcome of the work. I am very satisfied with the way the operations are going” adds the project owner. “We are rehabilitating the soils impacted by hydrocarbons for the future reconversion of the site” declares Rémi Muth, technical director at Séché Eco Services.
Non-standard construction site
The former Exxon Mobil site, now owned by the municipality of Frontignan, is targeted for a project to install ground-based photovoltaic panels. The subject was discussed at the municipal council on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The program is scheduled to be completed in the “short or medium term”, said Loïc Linarès, vice-president of Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée, municipal councilor delegated to sustainable development and democratic transition. Hervé De Greff confirms. “Putting a solar park here could be a good idea”.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“The deminer at the foot of the shovel”
“The rehabilitation of the former Exxon Mobil wasteland is an extraordinary project emphasizes Audrey Porchier-Reversat, director of Antéa Group projects. We have 165,000 cubic meters of earth to level.” Hervé De Greef agrees: “All earthworks are done with security, with a mine clearer at the foot of the shovel to check what is happening”.
Reassuring residents
The head of the environmental department at Esso asked Atmo Occitanie to monitor the air quality “so as to be able to prove to residents” of the site perimeter “that we are not putting them in danger”. This external and independent organization is recognized by the administration. “Its data is recognized by the Dréal emphasizes Hervé De Greef. It's a company that does things seriously. They monitor what's happening 24 hours a day, as well as air quality. They measure dust. They produce reports every six months that they publish on their site.
Everyone is aware of what's happening
It is 7 o'clock in the morning. It is still dark on the site of the former Mobil refinery in Frontignan. And yet, once past the sentry box, it is indeed a human hive that the visitor discovers upon entering the site. The morning wake-up begins with the essential site meeting, its safety instructions but also the roadmap for the day's operations. With this kind of briefing, everyone is aware in the morning of what is happening on the site, knows what is going to happen, which vehicles are going to circulate or where the danger zones are. The project owner also admits that “the land on the oil site gives off a strong odor. “It has been subjected to hydrocarbons” concede Esso's environmental managers. "Here, there is a smell that comes out and it is particularly strong.
A 60-ton tent
The refinery has the particularity of being located a stone's throw from the city center. Esso's environmental manager, Hervé De Greef, agrees: “What people see is a nuisance because there is noise. In the morning when we start, we warm up the machines at 7:30. At a quarter to eight, the first trucks come out. From time to time, the wind changes and the smells come.” It was to avoid disturbing the neighborhood that it was decided to set up a 50-meter wide and 120-meter long tent. It weighs 60 tons. The air and smells coming out of the excavations remain confined.
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