DEMINETEC in Arras
Pyrotechnic clearance and UXO risk management.DEMINETEC operates in Arras
DEMINETEC, a French company headquartered in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), delivers civilian demining (pyrotechnic clearance) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services to public and private clients in Arras, France. We cover the full chain from historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT) to ordnance neutralisation and disposal, in line with French Decree 2005-1325 and international best practice.
Pyrotechnic historical context of Arras
Arras and the Artois form one of Europe's most contaminated First World War battlefields. The city remained on the front line from October 1914 to October 1918, theatre of the Artois battles (1915), the Battle of Arras (April 1917) and the final offensives of 1918. The Wellington Quarry, dug by New Zealand tunnelling companies, testifies to the intensity of the fighting.
Artillery fire density across the Arras-Vimy-Bullecourt sector exceeds several tons of shells per hectare. Farmers, Grand Arras construction projects and developers still uncover hundreds of munitions each year: high-explosive shells, toxic-gas shells (mustard, phosgene), grenades and fuzes, all subject to French Decree 2005-1325.
Layered onto this WWI legacy are the May 1940 fighting (the 21 May 1940 British counter-attack at Arras) and the Allied bombings of 1944. Any development project in the Arras area requires a pyrotechnic historical desk study and, in most cases, a prior magnetometric survey.
Our services in Arras
Historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT)
Document research in national and foreign archives to qualify pyrotechnic risk on a site (bombings, combat, depots, ranges).
Pyrotechnic safety study (ESP)
Residual risk assessment, definition of effect zones, safety perimeters and collective protective measures.
Magnetometric geophysical survey
On-site detection of ferromagnetic anomalies, surface or deep, onshore or underwater.
UXO clearance
Extraction, identification and neutralisation / disposal of munitions by our NEDEX / EOD-qualified operators.
Underwater expertise
Survey and clearance in ports, rivers and offshore environments, in partnership with our group company SEMTEC.
Why choose DEMINETEC for Arras?
- French licensed company, ISO 9001 and MASE certified, compliant with French Decree 2005-1325.
- Teams of former French Navy and Army EOD operators (NEDEX / EOD qualifications).
- Over 30 years of accumulated experience in France and on international projects.
- Onshore and underwater intervention capacity through the DEMINETEC group (SEMTEC, GEODE, DEMINETEC ECG).
- Quick response: quote within 48 hours, rapid mobilisation in France and abroad.
Territorial coverage
DEMINETEC operates in Arras and across France from our French head office (285 avenue Marcel Paul, 83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, France). We mobilise teams and technical assets to fit each mission: documentary studies, short field surveys, or long-duration clearance operations.
Frequently asked questions about UXO clearance in Arras
Which munitions are typically found?
In Arras and across France, the most frequently recovered items include artillery shells, hand grenades, landmines, aerial bombs and — in coastal areas — naval mines. Exact typology depends on the site history and is the focus of the prior historical desk study (EHT).
Does French Decree 2005-1325 apply abroad?
French Decree 2005-1325 governs civilian pyrotechnic clearance on French soil. Internationally, DEMINETEC uses it as a best-practice benchmark alongside IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) and the contractual requirements specific to France.
How long does a mission in Arras typically last?
Duration varies with surface area, investigation depth and anomaly density. An EHT desk study takes 2-6 weeks, a magnetometric survey from a few days to several months, and active clearance from a few weeks up to multiple years for major projects.
Do you operate underwater?
Yes. Through our subsidiary SEMTEC and the DEMINETEC group, we provide commercial diving, underwater magnetometry and submerged-ordnance neutralisation for ports, rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
Contact DEMINETEC for Arras
For any historical study, diagnostic or pyrotechnic clearance request, contact our teams:
DEMINETEC SAS285 avenue Marcel Paul
83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, FRANCE
Tél: +33 (0)9 52 51 00 63
Email: contact@deminetec.com