Arkema: Proposed closure of methyl ethyl ketone production at the La Chambre industrial site
Arkema has presented to the Central Works Council a plan for the closure of its production at the La Chambre industrial site by end 2009.
The La Chambre (France / Savoie) industrial site specializes in the production of various amines and oxygenated solvents, including methyl ethyl ketone used primarily in paint and varnish manufacture.
Its raw material, secondary butanol, is supplied from the Total Petrochemicals plant in Notre-Dame de Gravenchon (Seine-Maritime). The supply conditions for this secondary butanol feedstock are creating ongoing difficulties for Arkema’s methyl ethyl ketone production operations.
The plan presented entails the shutdown of its production at the La Chambre site by end 2009. It would also include investments to consolidate the site’s other activities, and would result in the loss of 22 positions, with no redundancies.
In addition, Arkema plans to sell its methyl ethyl ketone marketing and sales assets to Sasol Solvents Germany GmbH. The companies have concluded negotiations and the implementation of this project is subject to the legal information and consultation process involving the Arkema France personnel representative bodies as well as the approval of merger control authorities in some countries.
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