CHARBONNAGES DE FRANCE CDF

What CHARBONNAGES DE FRANCE CDF does

Charbonnages de France (CdF) is a French state-owned enterprise (entreprise publique), wholly owned by the French government, created in 1946 following the nationalization of French coal mines. It operated the national coal mining industry across multiple basins — including Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Lorraine, Centre-Midi, Provence and Tarn — for nearly six decades before definitively committing to closure under the Pacte Charbonnier National of October 20, 1994, with the last mine (La Houve in Lorraine) shutting in April 2004.

CdF's current operational mandate is the environmental rehabilitation of former mining sites: treatment of polluted soils and groundwater, mine gas (methane/grisou) capture and recovery through boreholes and shaft-head exhaust systems, monitoring of mine water interactions with aquifers and surface water, and ongoing shaft maintenance for safety. Core technical capability was historically developed through the CERCHAR research center and is sustained via partnerships with CNRSSP de Douai, INERIS and other public research laboratories. The organization operates under the French Mining Code and the ICPE / Environmental Code framework.

Commercially, CdF is not a revenue-generating enterprise. Its activities are funded directly by government subsidies and allocations rather than commercial pricing; the current residual headcount is 16 employees in Paris, with the company explicitly positioned as a winding-down entity whose stated objective was to complete rehabilitation missions by 2007 and minimize residual obligations for successor operators.

Name

CHARBONNAGES DE FRANCE CDF

Legal name

Charbonnages de France

Website

https://charbonnagesdefrance.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Charbonnages de France is a French state-owned enterprise created in 1946 that operated the nationalized coal mining industry and, since the closure of the last French mine in 2004, executes government-funded environmental remediation of former mining sites across multiple French basins.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mine Closure and Environmental Remediation

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910), Remediation Services (56291), Coal Mining (2121)

SIC

Bituminous Coal & Lignite Mining (1220), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKAOAL

Reclamation, Remediation & Rehabilitation (Soils, Revegetation, Landform, Acid Rock Drainage)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Mine Development, Engineering & EPC (Design, Construction, Closure & Reclamation)

SECONDARYIMAKAIAN

Coal Mine Closure, Reclamation & Remediation

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Coal Mining

SECONDARYBPALAKAK

Mining & Heavy Metals Remediation (Acid Mine Drainage, tailings-impacted sites)

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Environmental Remediation & Site Cleanup (Soil/Groundwater)

SECONDARYEUAAAAAD

Coalbed Methane (CBM) / Coal Seam Gas (CSG)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Bioenergy, Natural Gas & Biomass/Natural Gas Exploration & Production (Upstream)

Keywords

• Mine closure management
• Environmental site remediation
• Mine gas recovery
• Groundwater treatment
• Polluted soil rehabilitation

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Charbonnages de France is a French state-owned enterprise that ceased coal mining operations in 2004 and now manages environmental remediation of former mining sites. Its core activities include mine site rehabilitation, groundwater and surface water quality monitoring, mine gas (methane) capture and recovery, treatment of soils polluted by industrial activity, and maintenance of mine shafts and associated infrastructure.

Product overview

Charbonnages de France CDF is an informational and educational website documenting the history, techniques, and environmental remediation efforts related to France's coal mining industry. The organization does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense, but rather serves as a historical archive and knowledge resource about coal mining operations, environmental management of former mining sites, and related energy topics including wood heating and fossil fuels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mine Site Rehabilitation Services Comprehensive rehabilitation of former coal mining sites to return land to the national community in environmentally compatible condition for sustainable future use; targeted at French government and public authorities responsible for post-mining obligations.
• Mine Water and Groundwater Management Treatment and quality monitoring of groundwater and surface water in former mining areas, including modeling of water exchanges between aquifers, mine water, rivers, and drinking water wells; aimed at preventing flooding and protecting water resources in former mining basins.
• Polluted Site and Soil Treatment Risk-based treatment of soils and sites polluted by industrial activity using bio-depollution techniques and other advanced remediation approaches; aimed at regulatory compliance with the Mining Code and ICPE regulations.
• Mine Gas (Methane) Capture and Recovery Capturing and recovering mine gas (methane/grisou) from former mining operations through boreholes and exhaust systems at shaft heads to enable safe release and prevent uncontrolled emissions.
• Mine Shaft Maintenance and Monitoring

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 sites studied for pollution risk as of June 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SofiremcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 1994Sofirem was created by Charbonnages de France with government support to facilitate industrial revitalization and reindustrialization of former mining regions. It constitutes the third pillar of the National Coal Pact (Pacte Charbonnier), focusing on economic development and job creation in affected regions.
• CNRSSP de DouaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre National de Recherche et de Sécurisation des Sites et Sols Pollués (CNRSSP) - National research center for polluted sites and soils based in Douai. CdF participates actively in this working group on polluted sites and soils.
• INERISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS) - National institute for industrial environment and risks. CdF collaborates with INERIS on research related to polluted sites and environmental remediation.
• Research Centers and LaboratoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with renowned research centers and laboratories supporting environmental remediation and mine closure activities. These collaborations provide scientific expertise and advanced methodologies for site rehabilitation.
• Public Authorities and Government BodiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with government ministries (Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development), local and regional authorities, and regulatory bodies for mine closure and environmental compliance activities.
• Local Associations and CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with resident associations, local communities, and the general public through consultation bodies and information workshops, particularly in Nord-Pas-de-Calais for ongoing rehabilitation projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Géoderis: French joint venture between BRGM and INERIS providing post-mining risk management, subsidence monitoring, and after-mine services. Operates in the same French regulatory space as CdF and handles closely related technical mandates.
• Wismut GmbH: German federal company tasked with remediating former uranium mining sites in Saxony and Thuringia. Shares CdF's profile as a state-owned remediation entity handling long-tail water treatment, tailings remediation, and site rehabilitation at scale.
• The Coal Authority: UK government body responsible for managing the legacy of coal mining, including subsidence risk management, water treatment, mine gas, and site safety. Operates on an almost identical public-sector mandate to CdF and serves as the closest international model for state-led mine closure.
• RAG-Stiftung: German foundation managing the closure of hard coal mines and the perpetual pumping of mine water in the Ruhr. Directly comparable to CdF in mission (German hard coal mine closure), water management obligations, and post-mining governance.

Others

• INERIS: French national institute for industrial environment and risks, active in polluted site assessment and remediation methodology. Functions as CdF's research partner via CNRSSP de Douai and on remediation technology development.
• BRGM: France's public geological survey, with overlapping subsurface, mining, and environmental expertise. CdF's former CERCHAR research heritage and ongoing research partnerships make BRGM an adjacent enabling institution rather than a direct competitor.
• Antea Group: International environmental and infrastructure consulting firm with strong French presence in site characterization, remediation design, and water management. Competes for adjacent consulting mandates that overlap with CdF's technical scope.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification company active in environmental compliance and industrial site assessment. Provides overlapping compliance and environmental verification services that touch CdF's regulatory domain.
• SUEZ: International environmental services group with remediation and water management capabilities. Competes broadly in the same technical domains (industrial site cleanup, water treatment) as CdF but as a diversified commercial operator rather than a state entity.
• Veolia Environnement: Global environmental services leader with significant industrial site remediation, water treatment, and hazardous waste capabilities. Operates at much larger scale across many segments, with overlapping mine remediation and water management offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charbonnages-de-france-cdf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHARBONNAGES DE FRANCE CDF