# Fibre Excellence industrial and safety crisis in France

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fibre-excellence-industrial-and-safety-crisis-in-france
> Updated: 2026-09-07T03:19:47.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

Fibre Excellence, France’s final pulp factory, is facing potential liquidation following the withdrawal of its Indonesian shareholder in April. To protect 270 jobs and maintain industrial sovereignty, regional leaders and the French Communist Party have proposed a temporary nationalization involving a €15 million state contribution to facilitate a deal with a private partner. While the Minister of Industry has rejected the nationalization proposal, political calls for state intervention continue.

Concurrently, the company’s Tarascon site has become a major safety concern. Following its liquidation in July, the facility—a Seveso low-threshold site—has faced risks from toxic chemical spills and the failure of fire defense and wastewater treatment systems. In response to the judicial liquidator’s failure to implement urgent safety measures, the French State has requisitioned the plant to prevent hazardous chemicals, such as propane and hydrogen peroxide, from polluting the Rhône river.

## Claims

- The French State has requisitioned the Fibre Excellence site in Tarascon to ensure safety. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The judicial liquidator failed to maintain safety measures despite multiple formal notices from authorities. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Fibre Excellence site is classified as a Seveso low-threshold facility. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The site currently holds eleven tons of wood and significant quantities of chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, propane, and heavy fuel oil. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The PCF supports the proposal for a temporary nationalization of Fibre Excellence. (single source)
- The State must provide 15 million euros to facilitate an industrial solution. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-07: Fibre Excellence site requisitioned by French State for safety

The French State has requisitioned the Fibre Excellence paper pulp plant in Tarascon to prevent chemical pollution and ensure safety at the Seveso-classified site following failures by its judicial liquidator.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fibre-excellence-site-requisitioned-by-french-state-for-safety

### 2026-09-02: Fibre Excellence faces liquidation as leaders call for temporary nationalization

French officials and regional leaders are calling for the temporary nationalization of Fibre Excellence to save the country’s last pulp factory and preserve hundreds of jobs amid liquidation threats.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/occitanie-officials-urge-temporary-nationalization-of-fibre-excellence-factory

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Cite as: Fibre Excellence industrial and safety crisis in France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fibre-excellence-industrial-and-safety-crisis-in-france