France-based multinationals TotalEnergies and Veolia have established a new strategic partnership to help further their respective targets for the circular economy and the energy transition.

TotalEnergies produces oil and gas, low-carbon energy and the various Total lubricant and coolant solutions like metalworking fluids. Veolia, meanwhile, specialises in water, waste and energy solutions. The two companies have complimentary competencies in their respective industries. When brought together in the new collaboration, it should help them to accelerate the achievement of their goals.

For example, TotalEnergies developed a pioneering technology to detect methane leaks at its production sites. Veolia is looking at deploying this at its landfill sites to detect areas with substantial emissions and take mitigation measures. It has a target of capturing four-fifths of the carbon emissions from its landfills by 2032.

The chief executive officer of Veolia, Estelle Brachlianoff, said about the new arrangement:

“I am very pleased with the agreement signed today with TotalEnergies: by combining our expertise, whether in sustainable water management, the circular economy or the reduction of methane emissions, we are putting our innovation capabilities at the service of the ecological transformation and the competitiveness of our industries.”

Veolia will also support TotalEnergies in reducing its withdrawal of freshwater in areas of water stress by a fifth by the end of this decade. This will include interventions like improving water treatment and reusing municipal wastewater for industrial processes.

The two companies will also collaborate in speeding up the use of low-carbon energy at the desalination sites operated by Veolia.