INEOS receives €300-million grant to rejuvenate and decarbonize its Lavera plant
- Installation of proven energy-efficient technology will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 331,000 tons a year, supporting France’s climate goals and positioning Lavera for future decarbonization through electrification and carbon capture
- The investment also strengthens France’s industrial sovereignty by ensuring reliable, competitive domestic production of critical raw materials essential to healthcare, defense, aerospace, clean energy and advanced technologies
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “This starts with protecting skilled jobs. The answer is NOT decarbonization by deindustrialization. Lavera employs thousands of people. It sits at the heart of French manufacturing. We are investing because France understands that a strong industrial base matters. Securing essential materials at home, rather than importing them from China or the United States, is simply common sense. This investment gives Lavera long-term resilience, sharpens its competitiveness and renews technology that cuts emissions by 331,000 tons a year. That is real industrial leadership. Europe needs a lot more of it if it wants to keep jobs, investment and sovereignty.”
INEOS has announced a €300-million investment supported by French government grants that will deliver the next phase of its Lavera regeneration plan and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 331,000 tpy, the equivalent of taking over 70,000 cars off the road each year. The program will also improve the long-term competitiveness of one of France’s most important industrial assets, securing thousands of skilled jobs.
The French government is providing support under the ‘Appel d’Offres Grands Projets Industriels de Décarbonation’ (AO GPID) scheme, part of the France 2030 investment plan and operated by ADEME. AO GPID provides annual grants to support large industrial decarbonization projects that deliver verifiable emissions reductions over a 15-year period to reduce France’s reliance on fossil-based energy.
At a time when chemical plants are closing across Europe due to pressure from high energy costs and global competition, this investment will provide stability for around 2,000 direct employees and more than 10,000 workers across the wider supply chain.
Lavera is a central pillar of French manufacturing. Its products and pipelines, feed directly into essential value chains across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, aerospace, transport, clean energy, food packaging and defense. Maintaining these capabilities inside France is vital for industrial strength, economic resilience and the country’s long-term technological leadership, particularly at a time when Europe faces rising dependence on imports from China and the United States.
The upgrades will make Lavera a profitable, lower-carbon facility with a clear pathway to net zero as electrification and carbon capture technologies mature. The investment will also support French circular economy objectives by enabling the Lavera cracker to process more sustainable feedstocks made from recycled plastics and bio-sourced materials, replacing fossil-based inputs.
Combined with the €250 million investment announced in November 2025, this takes the total planned investment in the Lavera site to more than €550 million.
INEOS continues to call for urgent political action to restore competitiveness in Europe’s strategically vital chemical sector. Without this, millions of jobs will be lost, emissions will rise, and key European industries will become dangerously dependent on imports.
Today’s announcement underlines INEOS’ long-term commitment to France. INEOS will work closely with the French Government throughout this investment program, from planning through to delivery, to ensure Lavera remains competitive, resilient and aligned with France’s industrial and climate objectives.
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