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Safran Ends Investments in Eco-Governed Cities Following Rennes Backlash

CEO Olivier Andriès cites national industrial priorities and local hostility in the decision to exclude ecologist-led cities from future projects.

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Le patron de Safran n'investira plus dans les villes écologistes
Le patron de Safran n'investira plus dans les villes écologistes

Overview

  • Safran CEO Olivier Andriès announced the company will no longer invest in cities governed by ecological majorities, citing experiences during the Rennes turbine blade foundry project.
  • The decision stems from protests by local ecological officials in Rennes, which included public criticism and symbolic acts like throwing tomatoes at the company’s representatives.
  • The Rennes project, expected to create 500 jobs by 2029, complies with environmental regulations and was developed in collaboration with the socialist mayor Nathalie Appéré.
  • Andriès emphasized that the policy is not politically motivated but aims to safeguard national industrial and economic interests amid local resistance.
  • Critics of the Rennes project raised concerns about pollution and military implications, while Safran highlighted its adherence to environmental laws and its economic benefits.