The Berre basin between industrialisation and decarbonisation: the great challenge facing the Provençal economy
The industrial port area of Fos-Berre is undergoing a major transformation to meet climate imperatives and international competition. Marseille Provence Airport, in partnership with major players such as Total Energies and H4 Marseille Fos, is in the process of transforming this historic proximity into a decisive competitive advantage: becoming the most competitive stopover in France for refuelling with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (CAD). This unprecedented dynamic is based on the development of a local industry and the strategic weight of based airlines, such as Air France, to leverage production costs.
TotalEnergies and the La Mède biorefinery: Act I of the local industry
The partnership between Marseille Provence Airport and TotalEnergies marks a significant milestone. The start of DAC production at the La Mède biorefinery, a converted former oil refinery, enriches the local ecosystem with new industrial capacity geared towards the energy transition.
This production, which has already begun using used cooking oils and animal fats, meets part of the needs of air carriers. It is directly in line with the sector's decarbonisation strategy (Scope 3), which is under pressure from the future European mandate to incorporate 6% DAC by 2030.
For airlines, the logistics equation is strategic. By sourcing locally from the AMP, located a few kilometres from La Mède, they are first reducing their own carbon footprint associated with fuel transportation. DAC, which can reduce CO2 emissions by 75% to 90% compared to fossil kerosene, can be integrated without modifying existing infrastructure, facilitating its immediate adoption.
Jean-Michel Diaz, Director of TotalEnergies for Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica, highlights the growth potential of this emerging sector, which enhances the attractiveness and dynamism of the region at the heart of the reindustrialisation process.
The unique competitive advantage: proximity as a lever
This is where the most powerful element of the Provence case lies: the immediate geographical proximity, unique in France, between a major international airport and its production basin.
For the airport operator, the objective is clear: to transform Marseille Provence Airport into an ultra-competitive platform for CAD refuelling. The closer the production, the lower the logistics and transport costs. By guaranteeing airlines broad and more economical access to the volumes required by European regulations, AMP is positioning itself as a port of call of choice.
The commitment of long-standing airlines such as Air France, which has converted its historic maintenance site on site into a key player in biofuel logistics, is a major asset. The weight of demand from our national airlines makes it possible to leverage prices and secure the ramp-up of local production, creating a virtuous circle for the regional economy.
The e-CAD horizon: maximum potential with H4 Marseille Fos
To achieve complete decarbonisation and meet all needs, converting biorefineries alone will not be enough. This is why the future lies in e-CAD (synthetic sustainable aviation fuels), produced from green hydrogen and captured CO₂.
This objective is actively supported by the airport through its involvement in the H4 Marseille Fos project. e-SAF (e-Sustainable Aviation Fuels) will supplement demand and enable the basin to reach its maximum production potential, making Fos-Berre one of the most advanced decarbonised energy hubs in Europe.
This news resonates with the major challenges facing the region, highlighted by the CNDP's public consultation on the future of the industrial port area. The projects, focused on hydrogen and biomass, confirm an ambition: to reconcile reindustrialisation, value creation and decarbonisation, making Provence a testing ground for a post-carbon economy, where heavy industry is reinventing itself.