Cheminova factory closure to impact 400 jobs in West Jutland

FMC Corporation has announced the closure of the Cheminova factory located at Harboøre Tange near Limfjorden in West Jutland. The decision follows several years of multi-billion kroner losses. The facility, which primarily produces agricultural pesticides, employs more than 400 people, making it the largest private employer in Lemvig Municipality.

Local officials, including Mayor Jens Lønberg, have described the news as a 'grenade shock' and a 'black day' for the municipality due to the significant impact on the sparsely populated area. Regional and local leaders are calling for government intervention to help secure new investments and jobs to mitigate the economic blow.

The factory has a long and controversial history regarding environmental impact. Since moving to Harboøre Tange in 1953, the site has been associated with significant toxic waste deposition. While legal battles in the 1980s determined that the state shared responsibility for certain cleanup costs, the site has faced ongoing environmental challenges, including instances where storm surges have breached protective barriers near toxic depots.