Essential molecules’ production in France: our investment plan
On the occasion of the visit of Mrs Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Industry, to the Roussillon platform (38), SEQENS details its investment plan for the platform to maintain and develop the production of essential molecules in France.
Promoting the production of essential molecules in France
On May 7, 2021, GIE OSIRIS, the organisation managing the Roussillon platform, and all of the platform’s industrials had the honor of welcoming Mrs. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery, in charge of Industry, to France’s leading chemical industry platform.
This was the opportunity for Seqens, during the visit of its workshops, to detail to the Minister, accompanied by local officials, the Deputy Monique Limon, the Senator Didier Rambaud, the Mayors Robert Duranton, Gilles Vial and André Mondange as well as the President of the Community of Communes Sylvie Dezarnaud, its innovative, efficient and environmentally friendly projects for the production of essential molecules in France, which are supported by the France Relance program.
On this strategic, competitive and carbon-free platform, where the group has invested more than €100 million over the last five years in its fully integrated activities, Seqens has launched several projects aimed at relocating the production of essential molecules in France while drastically reducing the environmental footprint of these productions.
During the visit, the Minister visited the site of the new high environmental performance unit for the production of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). With a capacity of 45,000 tonnes per year, this unit will ensure the production in France, even in times of health crisis, of one of the main solvents used in the production of intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients and in hygiene products such as hydroalcoholic solution and gel. Work has begun and the unit will be operational by early 2022.
Another emblematic project is a new 10,000 ton per year production facility for paracetamol, a key active ingredient in short supply during the health crisis, whose launch and success will depend on the competitiveness of the unit, a long-term agreement with our customers and our ability to reduce air and water emissions by a factor of 5.
Seqens thus plans to double its investment in the Roussillon platform over the next five years and to continue its decarbonization trajectory, which began when the group was founded in 2008 and has accelerated in recent years.
Thanks to its integration in the value chain and its capacity to innovate in clean and efficient technologies, Seqens is committed in France and in Roussillon to maintain and develop its essential and high added value activities. The support of the France Relance program will help accelerate these projects and position the Seqens group as a major player in pharmaceutical synthesis and specialty ingredients.