INEOS is investing €300 million to regenerate its Lavera site, backed by French government grants. The project will slash CO2 emissions by 331,000 tonnes annually—equivalent to removing 70,000 cars from the road—while securing thousands of local jobs and boosting the site’s long-term competitiveness.

As part of the France 2030 investment plan, the French government—via ADEME—is funding large-scale industrial decarbonization projects through the 'Appel d’Offres Grands Projets Industriels de Décarbonation' (AO GPID) scheme. This initiative offers annual grants to support projects that deliver verifiable, long-term emission reductions over 15 years, aiming to reduce France's reliance on fossil fuels.

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.

“This starts with protecting skilled jobs. The answer is NOT decarbonisation by deindustrialisation. 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 tonnes a year. That is real industrial leadership. Europe needs a lot more of it if it wants to keep jobs, investment and sovereignty,” Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman, INEOS, said.

Lavera is the heartbeat of French manufacturing, fueling vital industries like aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy. Keeping these operations within France is crucial for maintaining industrial autonomy and economic resilience. In an era of increasing dependence on US and Chinese imports, Lavera stands as a strategic bulwark for France’s long-term technological leadership.

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.