(AOF) – ExxonMobil Chemical France is preparing to cut 677 jobs at the Gravenchon site, in Port-Jérôme-sur-Seine, near Le Havre, according to information from AFP. The American oil group promises to initiate a “search for individual and collective solutions” for employees affected by the job cuts, specifying that “no departure is envisaged before 2025”. The group specifies that “the definitive shutdown of the steam cracker, polyethylene, polypropylene, adhesives and associated logistical facilities” represents 70% of the site’s chemical activities.
To explain these difficulties, ExxonMobil pointed to “the configuration of the steam cracker” and “its size compared to large newly built units”, but also cyclical factors such as “higher operating and energy costs in Europe” which “make it not competitive”.
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Biogas to green activities
Obtained through the decomposition of waste, it falls into the category of green energy. It is part of the strategy of many countries, particularly in Europe, to reduce their dependence on hydrocarbon imports. Oil groups have strong ambitions in the field, as two recent operations reveal. The British BP took over the American Archaea Energy for 4.1 billion dollars. Then, the Anglo-Dutch Shell announced the acquisition of the Danish Nature Energy for $2 billion. These operations display high valuation levels, highlighting the strong potential of the sector. TotalEnergies had already taken a stake in the American Clean Energy Fuels Corp in 2018, of which it now holds 19%. It recently joined forces with Veolia to recover biomethane from waste treatment facilities.