Brunner Mond, Europe’s second largest soda ash producer after Solvay SA, which was acquired by Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL) of India in 2006, is planning to close its 420,000 tpa capacity Delfzijl soda ash operation in the Netherlands by September 2009.
In a statement the company told IM: “...the business is forecasting continued heavy losses and, given the current economic downturn, the situation is now unsustainable.”
A spokesperson for Brunner Mond said: “Management representatives from Brunner Mond BV met members of the Works Council at its Delfzijl plant in the Netherlands on Monday 20 April 2009. At the meeting the Company declared its intention to cease operations at Delfzijl and petitioned the Works Council for their advice on this proposal in accordance with established practice in the Netherlands.”
The UK operations of Brunner Mond, which include its Northwich, UK 950,000 tpa soda ash facility, are not affected. The company also...