Antonio Marcegaglia, chairman of Marcegaglia Steel, and Marc Benayoun, Executive Director of the EDF Group in charge of the Customers, Services & Territories Division, today signed a letter of intent in the presence of Bernard Fontana, Chairman and CEO of EDF, during the “Decarbonization, Competitiveness, Sovereignty” conference.
This letter of intent lays the groundwork for a nuclear production allocation contract to be finalized by the end of the summer. It is a partnership agreement for at least 10 years, covering 50% of the electricity needs of the entire site, including planned expansions, with delivery starting in 2029.
Marcegaglia, an Italian industrial group led by Emma and Antonio Marcegaglia and active across the entire steel value chain, plans to invest over €750 million in the Ascometal site in Fos-sur-Mer, acquired in 2024. The project includes increasing electric furnace production, installing continuous slab casting, and a state-of-the-art hot rolling mill. The site will scale from 150,000 tons of steel to a projected capacity of 2.1 million tons per year, with a possible extension to 2.5 million tons. Production is expected to begin in mid-2028.
This project, recognized as being of major national interest, aims to address environmental challenges and develop efficient and sustainable production methods. One of the conditions for its confirmation was, on the one hand, constructive discussions with public authorities (administrative authorizations, etc.), and on the other hand, the provision of competitive energy.
The signing of this letter follows several weeks of discussions between Marcegaglia and EDF to secure a long-term low-carbon energy supply contract. This agreement will allow Marcegaglia to benefit from competitive, low-carbon electricity over the long term, enhancing its performance and providing greater visibility for its investments. By supporting industrial growth and competitiveness, EDF reaffirms its commitment to France’s industrial and energy sovereignty.
On this occasion, Marc Ferracci, Minister for Industry and Energy, praised this “regional project,” stating that: “there is a future for this essential industry that is steel.” The minister welcomed the conclusion of this agreement: “it is a contract for the future that commits future generations, and it is also a contract for competitiveness.”
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