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SNF PLANT BREAKS GROUND IN DUNKERQUE-PORT
9th june 2021

In March 2018, SNF, the international French chemicals company, announced its decision to set up a new production unit in the Port of Dunkerque. And, on Wednesday, June 9, the worksite for the new plant officially broke ground, in the presence in particular of Emmanuelle Verger, President of the Supervisory Board of Dunkerque-Port, Pascal Rémy, President and CEO of SNF, Patrice Vergriete, President of the Dunkerque Metropolitan Authority and Bertrand Ringot, Mayor of Gravelines.

The SNF group is a specialty chemicals group, the world's leading player in water chemistry, all of whose products are designed to either treat, recycle or preserve water, or help its customers save energy and reduce their carbon footprint.

The French government, the Hauts-de-France Regional Council and the Dunkerque Metropolitan Authority have been actively involved in supporting the project throughout the studies and site selection phase.

Opting for the chemical and industrial-port platform of Dunkerque, within the municipal district of Gravelines, represents an initial investment decided by the group of 160 million euros. The commissioning phase alone will create approximately 160 direct jobs. Development of the site thereafter will be continuous.

This new business activity will have significant impacts in terms of export shipping traffic for the Port and will generate significant outsourcing orders to all the industrial service companies in the surrounding region.

The positioning of the unit on the port of Dunkerque was a key criterion in the analysis of the SNF group. Its position close to the port terminals means a significant reduction in the transport costs of its finished products as well as its raw materials.

"This new plant on the Port of Dunkerque completes our 70 already existing sites in 130 countries. It will allow us to reach out from France to Northern Europe, despite the difference in investment costs in other countries and European and French regulatory constraints," explained Pascal Remy.

"I am delighted with this new setting-up operation on the industrial-port platform of Dunkerque. Implementing solutions for siting new production plants, chemicals in particular, is one of the priority areas for the development of the Major Seaport, and a daily focus for our industrial development teams," said Emmanuelle Verger.

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