In the Rhône region of France, a complex engineering project is currently unfolding beneath one of the country’s busiest transit arteries. A specialized operation to install electrical cables is taking place under the A6 motorway in Anse to support the growing industrial needs of Ancycla, a construction waste recovery company.
The project, which began on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, involves a high-precision technique known as directional drilling. This method allows Enedis, the network operator, to bury electrical infrastructure deep beneath the road surface without disrupting the heavy flow of traffic on the A6 motorway, which remains active as vehicles continue to commute across the region.
This specific infrastructure upgrade is driven by a surge in power requirements at the Ancycla site. As the company expands its operations in waste valorization and recycling, its energy consumption has increased to a level that necessitates a direct connection to a high-voltage substation. According to Enedis, this is one of only five projects of this magnitude currently being managed in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The Industrial Scale of Ancycla’s Operations
To understand why such an extensive electrical upgrade is necessary, one must look at the scale of Ancycla’s industrial activity. Ancycla operates as an eco-responsible enterprise dedicated to the recovery of construction and public works (BTP) waste, serving both professional contractors and local authorities Ancycla Official Site.
The platform located in Anse (Rhône), which is owned by the Firalp and Plattard Groups, manages a massive volume of materials annually. The facility receives approximately 550,000 tonnes of inert building waste each year. Of this total, the site valorizes 420,000 tonnes of soil and 130,000 tonnes of waste materials, including concrete, bricks, tiles, and ceramics Plattard Recycling Center.
These materials are sorted, treated, and recycled into aggregates used for the concrete industry and public works. This circular economy model allows the Group to recycle its own waste as well as materials from demolition and earthmoving sites, which are then partially reintegrated into the production of concrete products.
Engineering Challenges: Drilling Under the A6
The decision to use directional drilling for the current project highlights the technical constraints of the site’s location. Given that the A6 motorway is a critical transport link, traditional open-cut trenching—which would require closing lanes or diverting traffic—was not a viable option. Instead, the cables are being threaded several meters beneath the pavement.
The operation is described as “exceptional” due to the precision required to navigate the subterranean environment while ensuring the structural integrity of the highway above. The goal is to establish a reliable link to a high-voltage station, ensuring that Ancycla’s machinery and processing plants have the consistent power supply needed to maintain their recycling throughput.
Diversified Waste Management Services
Beyond the processing of inert materials, the Ancycla site in Anse serves as a professional waste collection point for non-hazardous materials. This includes the reception of:
- Glass wool and rock wool
- Plaster and hard plastics
- Wood, metal, and cardboard
- Joinery and other professional construction debris
the company provides recycled topsoil for landscaping professionals and maintains an exhibition of decorative aggregates. To increase accessibility for smaller clients, Ancycla and Plattard Négoce have introduced “BigBag” services, offering recycled, quarry, or decorative aggregates in 500 kg and 1.5-tonne containers.
Expanding the Regional Footprint
The growth seen at the Anse facility is mirrored by the company’s wider expansion strategy. In addition to the Anse operations, Ancycla opened a new platform in Ternay on August 18, 2025 Ancycla Platform Openings. This expansion allows the company to better manage the “Document préalable d’acceptation de matériaux” (prior material acceptance document) and the “Contrat de collecte et gestion de déchets du BTP” (BTP waste collection and management contract), ensuring full regulatory traceability for construction debris.
The company also facilitates the REP (Extended Producer Responsibility) service, providing free disposal for specific waste categories affected by these environmental regulations.
Key Takeaways of the Anse Project
- Objective: Connect Ancycla to a high-voltage power station due to increased energy demand.
- Method: Directional drilling to install cables beneath the A6 motorway without stopping traffic.
- Scale: One of only five such large-scale operations currently managed by Enedis in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
- Impact: Supports a facility that processes 550,000 tonnes of building waste annually.
As the directional drilling continues, the project serves as a benchmark for integrating heavy industrial growth within tightly constrained urban and transport corridors. The successful completion of this electrical link will allow Ancycla to sustain its role in the Rhône region’s circular economy.
The project is currently ongoing. Further updates on the completion of the high-voltage connection and the subsequent increase in processing capacity at the Anse site are expected as the installation phase concludes.
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