Engie


ENGIE is a French multinational electric utility company, headquartered in La Défense, Courbevoie, which operates in the fields of energy transition, electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and petroleum.
It is one of the few players in the sector to develop expert skills in both upstream and downstream activities.
The company, formed on 22 July 2008 by the merger of Gaz de France and Suez, traces its origins to the Universal Suez Canal Company founded in 1858 to construct the Suez Canal.
As of 2018, ENGIE employs 158,505 people worldwide with revenues of €60.6 billion.
ENGIE is listed on the Euronext exchanges in Paris and Brussels and is a constituent of the CAC 40 and BEL20 indices.
ENGIE was headed from 2016 to 2020 by Isabelle Kocher, who has strongly transformed the company since 2016, notably by deciding to exit coal activities and by investing massively in renewable energies and energy transition services.
During its General Meeting on 14 May 2020, ENGIE’s Board of Directors has approved its purpose statement which is "to act to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions".

History

Background (before 2006)

Prior to the GDF Suez merger plans in 2006, the company existed as two separate French multinational corporations - Suez S.A. and Gaz de France.
Suez was one of the oldest continuously existing multinational corporations in the world as the result of nearly two centuries of reorganisation and corporate mergers. One line of corporate history dates back to the 1822 founded Algemeene Nederlandsche Maatschappij ter begunstiging van de volksvlijt by King William I of the Netherlands. The origin of its name 'Suez' traces back to its other founding entity – the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez founded in 1858 to build the Suez Canal. Suez S.A. was the result of a 1997 merger between the Compagnie de Suez and :fr:Lyonnaise des Eaux|Lyonnaise des Eaux.
Gaz de France was created in 1946 along with its sister company Électricité de France by the French Government. After the liberalisation of Europe's energy markets, Gaz de France also entered into the electricity sector, having developed combined natural gas-electricity offerings. The company's capital was partially floated on the Paris Stock Exchange in July 2005, raising €2.5 billion for the French Government.

Evolution of GDF Suez (2006 - 2008)

On 25 February 2006, French Prime minister Dominique de Villepin announced the merger of water supply and treatment, waste management and energy company Suez and power firm Gaz de France, with the aim of creating the world's largest liquefied natural gas company. Since the French state owned over 80% of Gaz de France, it was necessary to pass a new law in order to make the merger possible. Whilst Nicolas Sarkozy was for several months opposed to the Villepin government's plans for a merger of the two companies, preferring a three-way deal with Italy's Enel which would maintain a controlling stake for the state, he subsequently accepted the government proposal.
The plan for a merger between Gaz de France and Suez came under fire from the whole of the political left, which feared the loss of one of the last ways of preventing the price rises experienced over the previous three years, and by the social Gaullists and trade unions. In August 2006, the left-wing opposition submitted a record-breaking 137,449 amendments to the proposed legislation. Under normal procedure, parliament would have been required to vote on the amendments, which would have taken 10 years. The French Constitution does give the government options to bypass such a filibuster, but in the end these were not used.
Law No. 2006-1537 of 7 December 2006 on the energy sector authorised the privatisation of Gaz de France. On 3 September 2007, Gaz de France and Suez announced agreed terms of merger, on the basis of an exchange of 21 Gaz de France shares for 22 Suez shares via the absorption of Suez by Gaz de France. Various holdings of Gaz de France and Suez had to be divested in order to satisfy the concerns of the European Commissioner for Competition: GDF agreed to sell its approximate 25% stake in Belgian electricity producer SPE for €515 million. The stake was purchased by fellow SPE shareholder Centrica which exercised its right of first refusal, blocking a previous agreement to sell the stake to Électricité de France. Suez, meanwhile, was forced to reduce its shareholding in natural gas distributor Fluxys and sell its Belgian gas supply subsidiary Distrigas to Eni.

GDF Suez (2008 - 2015)

The newly created GDF Suez came into existence on 22 July 2008; the world's second-largest utility with over €74 billion in annual revenues. The deal resulted in the conversion of the French state's 80% stake in GDF into just over 35% of shares of the new company. The water and waste assets which formerly formed part of Suez were spun off into a new publicly traded company, Suez Environment, in which GDF Suez retains a stake.
In 1975, Ruhrgas and Gaz de France concluded a deal according to which they agreed not to sell gas in each other's home market. The deal was abandoned in 2005.
In July 2009, the European Commission fined GDF Suez and E.ON €553 million both over arrangements on the MEGAL pipeline. It was the second biggest fines imposed by the European Commission and the first one on the energy sector.
In October 2009, GDF Suez placed 6th in an A.T. Kearney/BusinessWeek ranking of the "World's Best Companies", the highest-placed European firm.
On 10 August 2010, the company announced a merger of its GDF SUEZ Energy International business unit, along with its operations within the United Kingdom and Turkey, with International Power. The acquisition created the world's biggest independent power producer, and the enlarged company retained International Power's listing on the London Stock Exchange and was 70% owned by GDF Suez.
In December 2010, GDF SUEZ became the key founding member of the 'Medgrid' company - a consortium of twenty plus utilities, grid operators, equipment makers, financing institutions and investors; which will implement the 'Medgrid project', a French renewable energy initiative within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean. The project, planned in North Africa, aims to promote and develop a Euro-Mediterranean electricity network of 20GW installed generating capacity, with 5GW being devoted for exports to Europe. The Medgrid together with the German initiated Desertec project would serve as the backbone of the European Supergrid.
On 16 April 2012, the purchase of the remaining 30% of International Power was announced by GDF Suez, and the transaction completed in July 2012. GDF Suez was advised by Rothschild and Ondra Partners, while Barclays, Morgan Stanley and Nomura advised International Power.
On 9 August 2013, GDF Suez, through its Energy Services business line, announced the purchase of Balfour Beatty's UK Facilities Management business – Balfour Beatty WorkPlace. The legacy Cofely business incorporated the legacy Balfour Beatty Workplace Business which went on to acquire Lend Lease FM in 2014 from Lend Lease Group giving the new business a substantial platform in the operation of PFI assets in the UK.

GDF Suez becomes ENGIE: 2015 - present

On 24 April 2015 GDF Suez announced it was changing its name to "ENGIE", in an effort to further expand the company's international footprint. CEO and Chairman Gérard Mestrallet said the new name was a symbol to meet the challenges of the energy transition and accelerate the group's development. The subsidiary International Power became Engie Energy International.
In July 2015, ENGIE acquired 95% of Solairedirect, raising its photovoltaic production from 125 to 486 MW.
On 2 March 2017, ENGIE acquired Keepmoat Regeneration for £330m to form the places and communities division, headed up by Keepmoat LTD's former CEO Dave Sheridan. The new division is focused on three key activities; energy, services and regeneration.
GDF Suez has been ranked as among the 13th best of 92 oil, gas, and mining companies on indigenous rights and resource extraction in the Arctic.
In April 2019, Engie announced the acquisition of 90% of Transportadora Associada de Gás, Brazil's largest natural gas transmission system owner, for €7.7 billion.
It is the largest acquisition since International Power in 2010. The operation allows Engie to develop on its strategic axis of energy infrastructure as well as in Brazil, one of the priority countries.
In February 2020, the board of directors announces that it will not propose the reappointment of Isabelle Kocher at the next shareholders’ meeting, which will bring to an end of her Chief Executive Officer position.

Strategy

Transformation of the company's business

Since 2014, ENGIE has operated a strategic shift, by reducing future exploration in fossil fuels and investing massively in renewable energies and energy efficiency services.
In 2015, ENGIE announced its decision to stop new investments in coal plants, and to dispose of €15 billion in assets in order to reinvest into projects that promote low-carbon, distributed-energy. ENGIE also announced it will invest €22bn in renewable energies, energy services such as heating and cooling networks, and decentralized energy technology.
In 2016, Isabelle Kocher defines the strategy of ENGIE as follows: to promote decarbonized energy, decentralized energy, and digitized energy. The Group creates ENGIE Digital and plans to invest €1.5 billion on digital and new technologies related to energy.
ENGIE is also promoting an open innovation approach with its dedicated entity "ENGIE Fab" that supports in particular development of intelligent networks, Internet of objects, green mobility, energy storage, and hydrogen.
Between 2016 and 2018, ENGIE invested €15 billion in new activities, financed by the sale of coal and upstream oil and gas.

2019-2021 strategic plan

In 2019, Isabelle Kocher announces the strategic plan of the company for the 2019-2021 period, with an ambition to become the world leader in the zero-carbon transition. The strategic shift includes accelerating its investments in renewable energies and focusing on high-value added services to the clients.
Isabelle Kocher announces the definitive exit of coal activities. Engie plans to invest another €12 billion in renewable activities, partly financed by the sale of €6 billion assets.
The 12 billion break down as follows: 3 to 3.3 billion into gas infrastructure; 4 to 5 billion into client services and solutions; and 2.3 to 2.8 billion into renewable energies, adding a 9 GWH production capacity, to reach a renewable installed capacity of 52 to 64 GW by 2026.
As far as the services are concerned, Isabelle Kocher's plan is to develop "energy transition as a service" for large companies and metropolises, whom she says are driving the "second wave of energy transition" by searching ways to reduce their carbon emissions. She also says it might be "the invention of a new industry" of a 1 billion dollar potential value.
Engie also announces its intention to leave 20 of the 70 countries where it is active, and focus its activities on 20 countries and 30 metropolitan areas, mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Operations

Power generation

France

Thanks to former Suez subsidiaries such as Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, Electrabel and , GDF Suez is the second-largest generator of electricity in France behind EDF. The company indicated in December 2011 that of the group's production comes from sources that emit no CO2 principally hydroelectricity and wind power, the latter of which both Gaz de France and Suez moved aggressively into in 2007 and 2008. Recently acquired subsidiaries include , the wind farm business of Nass & Wind and Erelia. The company also operates a natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Dunkirk. With the stated aim of reaching a total production capacity of 10 GW by 2013, three gas-fired thermal power plants at Fos-sur-Mer, Montoir-de-Bretagne and Saint-Brieuc are currently in various stages of development, as is a solar panel project in Curbans.

International

ENGIE also generates electricity in a number of countries outside France. Most notably, the company is the leading producer in both Belgium and the Netherlands through Electrabel, as well as the largest non-state owned generator in both Brazil and Thailand.
The company also operates in North and Latin America through its Suez Energy International unit, as well as in other European and Asian countries. The company generates electricity through various types of plants, including thermal power, nuclear power, combined heat and power, wind farms, hydroelectric and biomass. ENGIE is currently developing a $15.8 billion nuclear power plant in Sinop, Turkey in partnership with Itochu and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
In November 2016, ENGIE signed an agreement with Moroccan energy company Nareva. The two companies are planning to develop energy assets in North and Western Africa that will produce 5,000 and 6,000 megawatts. The plans will take place between 2020 and 2025.
In December 2016, ENGIE announced that Azzour North One Independent Water & Power Project has started full commercial operations. The power and water plant is Kuwait's most efficient source of electricity.
In January 2017, ENGIE has been awarded the contract and achieved financial closing for the greenfield Fadhili independent power project in Saudi Arabia, the most efficient cogeneration plant in the country.

Coal-fired power plants

In October 2015, ENGIE announced that it will no longer build coal-fired power plants. Gérard Mestrallet said projects for which ENGIE had already entered into firm commitments would be honored, but projects where contracts had not yet been signed will de facto be suspended. As a result, ENGIE abandoned two coal-fired power plants projects in Ada Yumurtalik and in Thabametsi. In February 2016, ENGIE announced the selling of its stakes in the Paiton power plant located in Indonesia and in the Meenakshi power plant located in India. ENGIE also announced the closing of the Rugeley power station in England.
In May 2016 ENGIE CEO Isabelle Kocher told a French Senate committee that it was planning a gradual withdrawal from coal-fired generation over the coming years. This could include closure of, or sale of its stake in, the lignite-fired Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria, Australia. Hazelwood power plant closed at the end of March 2017.
ENGIE sold to Enea its Polaniec power plant, in Poland.
In February 2019, Engie announced the definitive exit of all coal activities.

Renewable energy

ENGIE's renewable installed capacity represented 19.5% of its energy mix at the end of 2016. The Group's renewable energy mix is composed of hydropower, solar energy, onshore and offshore wind power, biomass, and geothermal sources.
ENGIE has won bids for several solar and wind projects since 2016: a 338 MW solar project in India, 209 MW in contracts for solar and wind projects in Mexico, and a 40 MW solar project in Peru. It has begun construction of the 100 MW Kathu solar park in South Africa.
ENGIE invested in Heliatek, a German company pioneering technologies in organic photovoltaics, in September 2016. The Group also assumed 100% control of La Compagnie du Vent in March 2017, and a 30% stake in Unisun, a Chinese solar photovoltaics company, in April 2017.
In Brazil, ENGIE's largest international hydroelectric project, and the fourth largest power plant in the country was inaugurated in December 2016.
ENGIE built its first international geothermal power generation plant in Indonesia. In October 2016, ENGIE developed France's first marine geothermal power station in Marseilles. In May 2017, Mexico's ministry of energy awarded ENGIE three geothermal exploration permits.
In February 2019, ENGIE announces it plans to add 9 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity to its portfolio by 2021, as part of its plan to accelerate the investments in renewable and low carbon energies.
In May 2019, ENGIE and Portuguese power company EDP announced the future creation of a 50-50 joint venture in offshore wind, starting with a total of 1.5 gigawatts under construction and 4 GW under development.
Engie's Willogoleche Wind Farm opened in South Australia on 30 July 2019. It also owns Pelican Point and Dry Creek gas-fired power stations and Canunda Wind Farm in South Australia.

Renewable gas

ENGIE covers the whole biomethane chain, from project development with farmers to distribution to the final clients. The group has announced that, by 2030, it would have invested 2 billion euros in renewable gas, 10% of which will be injected into the networks, and that it will produce 5 TWH a year of biomethane.

Natural gas

In its historic activity of gas, ENGIE covers the whole gas chain, from exploration and production to distribution. It is the:
In November 2016, ENGIE and Statoil have reached an agreement on the renegotiation of their long-term gas supply contracts to adapt them to the evolution of European natural gas markets and to better reflect current market rates.
In 2016, ENGIE has negotiated new contracts for gas supply around the world: an agreement with UkrTransGaz, Ukrainian transmission system operator, on gas transmission and storage; an agreement with AES Andres to foster growth in LNG and natural gas sales in the Caribbean. ENGIE also committed the Neptune, one of the two FSRU of its fleet, to deliver LNG to the first floating LNG import terminal in Turkey.
In China, after an LNG supply agreement with Beijing Gas, ENGIE is looking at opportunities in the underground gas storage needed to hold stocks to meet seasonal demand.
The bunkering vessel ENGIE Zeebrugge performed for the first time in the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, in June 2017. It was the first to provide ship-to-ship supplies for LNG as a fuel.
In March 2017, ENGIE sold its licenses for shale gas exploration in the UK to petrochemicals firm Ineos, as part of its decarbonized strategy
In May 2017, ENGIE enters into exclusive negotiations with Neptune Energy for the sale of its 70% interest in Exploration & Production International.
ENGIE signed in 2016 a technical and commercial cooperation contract with Göteborg Energi to push further the industrialization of the dry biomass-to-gas production approach. Engie is also involved in the Ambigo project, the first dry biomass-to-gas project which will be located in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

Energy services

ENGIE provides energy efficiency and environmental services. 90,000 of the group's employees are dedicated to these services.
In March 2017, ENGIE acquired the Dutch EVBox], one of the suppliers in electric vehicle charging.
ENGIE and Axium Infrastructure US won a 50-year concession to ensure the sustainable energy management of the Ohio State University in Columbus, one of the largest university campuses in the United States with 485 buildings.

Student Accommodation

Engie designs, build and deliver new student accommodation and refurbish existing facilities - transforming tired buildings into high-quality, homely residences.
  1. State of France
  2. BlackRock
  3. Caisse des dépôts et consignations
  4. CNP Assurances
  5. employees of the company
  6. free float
  7. treasury stock

    Organisation

Business units

In April 2019, as part of its strategic project to develop zero-carbon transition "as a service", Engie announced the organization of its businesses around four business lines: Thermal, Infrastructures, Customer Solutions and Renewables. Engie also announces the creation of Engie Impact, a business entity in charge of strategy for the largest clients.
Engie is also organised in geographic and transverse business units:

ENGIE Impact

Nico finally didn’t join the Real Impact team.

GrDF

GrDF is the distribution subsidiary of gas, major gas distributor in France and Europe. GRDF builds, operates and maintains the distribution network. It transports natural gas to customers. It has around 12000 employees and the actual CEO is senior executive Edouard Sauvage.

ENGIE Cofely

ENGIE Cofely is the subsidiary of energy efficiency and environmental services. It employs 12000 collaborators and generates a turnover of €2,5 billion. The CEO is Jean-Pierre Monéger.

ENGIE IT

ENGIE IT or ENGIE Information & Technologies is the IT subsidiary of Engie group, founded in 2012 by CEO Jean-Michel Carboni. Originally Engie IT departments were managed by the DSI ; Carboni pooled IT departments to create 1 subsidiary named ENGIE IT. In 2013 the turnover is around 600 million of EUR.

Sportive teams

ENGIE Impact host the multi-championship winning team Real Impact FC. The team captain is Monsieur Florian Binter. On December 2019, Real Impact FC won the Tractebel championship final by 3 to 1 against Project Fusion FC.

Key Figures

Revenues  : 60,1 bn€
Revenue in each region : 
Revenu by activity :
Capacity of installed power production : 104,3 GW in 2018, of which
Capacity of produced electricity : 420 TWh in 2018
Employees : 171 100
Employees in each region :
Employees by activity :
The ENGIE General Management:
The members of the group executive committee are:
Engie is administered by a Board of Directors of 13 members:
The Board is backed by the recommendations of four specialized committees.