Closure of the Solvay factory in Salindres: “The government must listen and act”

Since the announcement of the closure, employees have started a strike movement. Midi Libre – Alexis BETHUNE

The day after the announcement of the closure of the industrial site in Salindres, Alès Agglo calls for a strong national reaction for the sustainability of the site and the employees made redundant.

The day after the announcement, by its management, of the closure of the Solvay site at the Salindres chemical platform, many reactions from elected officials in the Alès basin were heard. “We will be with the elected representatives of the basin and more particularly with Étienne Malachanne, mayor of Salindres, alongside the employees to activate all the levers to maintain industrial employment on the chemical platform”, support for example Philippe Ribot, president of the association of mayors of Gard, and Valérie Meunier, both departmental councilors of the canton concerned. As a reminder, 68 employees will be made redundant in 2025 following the closure of this plant producing TFA.

Read also: Eternal pollutants: the Solvay chemical plant near Alès will close, 68 jobs lost

“There may be other activities”

This Wednesday, September 25, in the morning, several elected officials, including the mayors of Salindres and Rousson as well as the president of Alès Agglo Christophe Rivenq, participated in an on-site interview with the group's CEO. “The law requires Solvay to take steps to find a buyer, , recalls Christophe Rivenq. I asked the CEO to do everything possible to. “  Given the size of the chemical platform, “there may be other activities here. I don't understand why a company wouldn't come to us and hire 68 people."

However, the situation, according to the president of Alès Agglo, must be quickly taken in hand by the new management of the State. “I sent a letter to Michel Barnier to help us find a new activity.” Christophe Rivenq also intends to quickly make contact with Marc Ferracci, the new Minister of Industry. “I hear the Prime Minister say: “We must act more than talk”. Now, I'm waiting for someone to talk to me, and above all for someone to act."

As for the employees who are being pushed out, "we will support them", he emphasizes, "Alès Myriapolis, our economic development agency, will of course be available."

Also read: A "world record" of discharges of eternal pollutants measured in Salindres: Générations futures accuses local authorities of inaction

Still according to Christophe Rivenq, the closure of Solvay is also an indirect consequence of the study by the NGO Générations Futures which says it noted, last February, a "world record" TFA rate around the Solvay site. “There are TFAs everywhere, continues the president of the Agglo, including at the summit of Mont Blanc.” But here too, he is making an appeal to the government: “Today we must be told whether or not there is a danger for the population.”