The port expansion project, launched in 2019, is set to be completed by 2026. A colossal undertaking with a total cost of €600 million, it aims to enable France’s third-largest Mediterranean port to reach new milestones and pivot towards future-oriented sectors.
The figures illustrate the scale of the colossal project launched in 2019. The port area is set to nearly quadruple, reaching 220 hectares by 2026. Deepening the port basin required the extraction of 8 million cubic meters. In total, €600 million will have been invested to position Port-La Nouvelle as a key player in the energy transition sector.
Opening up to large-tonnage vessels
One of the key objectives of this project is to accommodate ships with greater draughts. The basin’s depth will ultimately increase from 8 meters to 16 meters, explains Roman Stega, the port’s technical director. Until now, tankers transporting hydrocarbons had to rely on the ‘sealine,’ an offshore underwater pipeline, to deliver their cargo. The port basin was not deep enough to host them. This posed a vulnerability: in rough seas, operations were often delayed
The new 140-meter jetty under construction will provide a reliable solution for supplying the port’s storage tanks.
Two new operational piers
At the same time, two new piers will offer ships over 400 meters of additional quay space.
- A 15-hectare bulk cargo pier dedicated primarily to grain.
- A « green » pier specifically designed for the assembly of offshore wind turbines. Seven hectares are already in operation, with a total of 30 hectares planned by 2026.
‘What interests us is less about tonnage and more about high-value-added activities. Port-La Nouvelle must become the port of the energy transition.’
— Hans Kerstens, General Manager of Port-La Nouvelle.
The port’s General Manager, Hans Kerstens, emphasizes the commitment of Semop, the semi-public company managing the port, and local authorities—primarily the Occitanie region—to positioning Port-La Nouvelle as a showcase for the energy transition.
On the new green pier, the massive floats, blades, and nacelles of the first three offshore wind turbines already dominate the horizon, creating an impressive sight. Many more are expected to follow, with three experimental pilot farms, each comprising three turbines, set to become operational soon. Hans Kerstens predicts a bustling future: ‘The volume of activity matters less than its quality. We’re not interested in traditional cargo like coal; we’re focusing on high-value-added traffic.’
Green hydrogen on the horizon
Half of the 8 million cubic meters of material extracted from the seabed was used to construct the two piers, as well as a vast 70-hectare land reserve. This backport area is designed to attract businesses linked to port activities, with Hyd’occ leading the charge.
The company aims to become France’s leading green hydrogen producer, with a projected output of 3,000 tonnes annually. The production unit is scheduled to open in 2025. As the third-largest Mediterranean port in France, after Fos and Sète, Port-La Nouvelle is committed to a green future.
Source: franceinfo
