The former Ferropem site in Château-Feuillet, located in La Léchère (Savoie), was bought by Ugitech, confirmed the Minister for Industry on Tuesday 10 January.
It was a possibility until then, it is now recorded: the Ferropem site of Château-Feuillet, located in La Léchère (Savoie), has been bought by Ugitech, according to information from the Monde published this Tuesday, January 10 and confirmed by Swiss Steel Group, owner of Ugitech.
Nine months following the employment protection plan (PSE) and the dismissal of 220 employees, an agreement to transfer the site and buildings was reached between Ferroglobe, parent company of Ferropem, and Swiss Steel Group.
Last week, the general manager of Ugitech, Raphaël Rey, announced that the Ugine company was one of the two potential buyers of Ferropem Château-Feuillet. He then explained that a takeover of the site would make it possible to develop the “Ugi’ring’ project, intended the recycling of ferro-alloys from industrial waste.
“Detailed feasibility and siting studies might eventually lead to the creation of the world’s first ‘circular steel mill'”explains Swiss Steel Group on Tuesday in a press release.
“Ugi’Ring is a project subsidized to the tune of more than 9 million euros as part of the France Relance planreminded the new CEO of Ugitech. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region helps us in this project as well. This is a file on which we are making progress on the technical solutions and on the implementation.”
Ugitech attracted the preference of employees and players in the area given the seriousness of the site.
Vincent Rolland, MP for the 2nd constituency of Savoie.
This installation might therefore take place on the site of the former factory specializing in silicon. About fifty direct jobs might be generated during the start-up phase in the coming years.
“We have been working with the government on this file for several months. Two possible buyers had positioned themselves. But Ugitech has attracted the preference of employees and local players given the seriousness of the site”explains the deputy Vincent Rolland.
“We fought for months to preserve these jobs. I was saddened by the closure. What awaited the site following this closure was that it would turn into an industrial wasteland. It will not be the investment and jobs will be created in a sustainable and virtuous dynamic with this Ugi’ring project”he continues.
The soap opera Ugitech punctuated the last presidential campaign. Many candidates were received on the spot and denounced the danger of a closure of the first silicon production site in France.
With this acquisition, Ugitech becomes the owner of a large site of 10.5 hectares, 38,000 square meters of buildings, four industrial furnaces with a direct rail service.
“I would like to salute this agreement reached between Ferropem and Ugitech, which makes it possible to relaunch industrial activity on the Château-Feuillet site”welcomed Roland Lescure, Minister for Industry, in a press release. “Finally, I have a thought for each and every one of the former employees of Ferropem in Château-Feuillet, whom we will of course continue to support in their return to work.”
For its part, Ferroglobe wished to thank “local, departmental, regional and national stakeholders as well as the Management of Ferroglobe for the process of disposal of built land”.
