Mange-Garri is a tailings storage facility near Marseille, France.  

It was part of a larger site, which also contained the Gardanne alumina plant, administrative facilities and other industrial infrastructure.  

Mange-Garri was established in 1903 to store bauxite tailings from the Gardanne alumina plant, which was founded in 1894. These tailings are a byproduct of the alumina production process.  

We acquired the whole Gardanne site in 2007 when we acquired Alcan. In 2012, we divested Gardanne to private equity firm HIG (who managed the site through a company named Alteo), but we retained responsibility to remediate it.  

The Gardanne alumina plant stopped transferring bauxite tailings to Mange-Garri in 2022.  

In 2024, we signed an agreement with Alteo to take over management of the Mange-Garri tailings storage facility. Alteo retains responsibility to remediate the Gardanne alumina plant. 

We’ve managed Mange-Garri since July 2024, and we’re responsible for its long-term stability and security, remediation for its next land use. The project is currently in a prefeasibility study phase. 

Remediation needs

We’re remediating Mange-Garri to rehabilitate the environment, so we can safely and sustainably return the land for local communities to use.

The site spans approximately 150 hectares. Mange-Garri covers about a third of that area (50 hectares), including 7 purpose-built storage basins containing stored bauxite tailings.

The project also includes:

  • a basin for rainwater collection
  • 7 dams to stabilise the bauxite storage basins
  • a water collection system designed to collect leachates from the bauxite tailings deposits
  • a drainage network to mitigate the impacts of bad weather

The site is also linked to:

  • pipelines connecting the Mange-Garri site to the Alteo Gardanne alumina plant
  • 55 km pipeline between the Alteo Gardanne alumina plant and the Mediterranean Sea1
  • a “hill” area with administrative buildings leased to Alteo. 

The site is close to nearby communities, so we’ve implemented strict control measures, including regular air, water and soil quality monitoring since taking over its management. 

Remediation progress

As we prepare for remediation, we’re conducting a prefeasibility study that will define the possibilities and outline the scope of a more detailed project study.

The prefeasibility study encompasses geotechnical, hydrogeological and environmental investigations, as well as analyses of weather conditions and potential climate change impacts. The results will guide the remediation plan for the site.

The geotechnical investigation will help us better understand the characteristics of the dikes and ponds, including the state of the bauxite deposits and the stability of the dikes. The study, which we expect to complete in 2026, will define the necessary work for the adaptation, reinforcement, and re-profiling of the ponds and dikes, ensuring long-term stability and safety. 

We've installed piezometers to start a hydrogeological investigation designed to help us understand the paths of groundwater and surface water. 

Before taking over the site, we began testing in 2023 to see if specially designed soil could support plant growth to help rehabilitate bauxite tailings. An independent assessment by the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research is underway to carefully evaluate the proposed solutions. 

We’re also conducting a fauna and flora inventory before starting any work on the site, as well as analysing how regional meteorological conditions evolve.

Creating lasting value for communities

Our goal is to remediate the site in a way that delivers economic, environmental and social opportunities for the communities surrounding Mange-Garri. 

In coordination with the Sous-Préfecture of Aix-en-Provence, the municipality of Bouc-Bel-Air will lead the consultation process. We are committed to communicating openly about the plan and any potential impacts as part of this consultation. The Mange-Garri Comité has been set up by the Sous- Préfecture to manage communication.

Next steps

We plan to complete the prefeasibility study in 2026. Then, in coordination with local authorities, we’ll move to a feasibility study for the agreed remediation plan. 

Mange-Garri’s history

The Mange-Garri tailings storage facility was established in 1903 to store bauxite residue from the Gardanne alumina plant. Mange-Garri currently stores bauxite tailings that were extracted between 1903 and 2022.

The Gardanne alumina plant was founded in 1894, driven by Austrian engineer Karl Josef Bayer, inventor of the process that extracts alumina from bauxite.

It became the first alumina production site in Europe and a key industrial player around the Mediterranean. Over the decades, the production facility played a key role in the mining industry.

After Alteo took over in 2012, the alumina plant shifted its focus toward high-value specialty aluminas used in automotive, electronics, and energy industries.  

Contact us

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