Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
German energy group E.ON plans to close five coal-fired power plants in France affecting some 535 jobs. The affected plants are located in Saint-Avold (Moselle), Gardanne-Meyreuil (Bouches-du-Rhône), Hornaing (Nord) and Montceau-les-Mines (Saône-et-Loire). As of December 2011, there is no information on the timeline of the job cuts.
The closure is due to the need to modernize the facilities to meet new EU standards. Coal-fired power plants are used to make up shortfalls in production, which will increase due to the closure of nuclear power plants in some European countries. Potential buyers have lamented the difficulty to obtain the information necessary to make offers to take over the closing plants. This was also stressed by the French Minister of Industry in a letter to the Chairman of E.ON France.
UPDATE, 31/03/2012 - Sparkling Capital has made an offer to take over four out of five E.ON coal-fired power stations in France - i.e. Saint-Avold (Moselle), Hornaing (Nord) and Lucy (Saône-et Loire). Sparkling Capital claimed that it intends to keep to 365 jobs, and make investments to modernise the facilities.
UPDATE, 12/10/2012 - On 11 October 2012, E.ON's management announced a safeguard employment plan (plan de sauvegarde de l'emploi). 215 jobs will be lost, as opposed to the 535 positions originally announced. The job losses are linked to the closure of two coal-fired power plants in Hornaing (in 2013) and Montceau-les-Mines (in 2014). The closure of Saint-Avold is postponed to 2015. The site of Gardanne will be changed into a biomass power plant.
Eurofound (2011), E.ON, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 73332, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/73332.