Eramet: Fire at its Senegalese Site, Production Halt Expected
A fire broke out on the afternoon of February 22 at the Wet Concentration Plant (WCP) of Eramet's Grande Côte site in Senegal. The incident, which was controlled on the same day without any casualties, will lead to a complete shutdown of the site by the end of March 2026 for an indefinite period.
Details of the Incident
The fire occurred on February 22 in the afternoon at the WCP (Wet Concentration Plant) of the Eramet Grande Côte site, located in Senegal. The fire was controlled and completely extinguished around 8 PM on the same day, without any casualties or injuries. The fire was confined to the facilities of the first stage of the WCP screening process, the wet concentration unit where heavy minerals are separated from the extracted sand. The facilities of the second stage of the process, including the mineralized sand separation spirals, were not affected. The MSP (Mineral Separation Plant), a downstream unit located on land about ten kilometers from the WCP, was not affected by the incident. The shutdown of the WCP interrupts the production process and will lead to the shutdown of the entire site by the end of March 2026, for a long period whose duration remains undetermined at this stage.
Ongoing Investigations and Impact on Operations
Technical investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of the fire and to assess the condition of the affected facilities. As a result, Eramet Grande Côte has notified its concerned clients and suppliers about the activation of force majeure clauses provided in its contracts. The Group has also decided to suspend its 2026 guidance on the production of HMC (Heavy Mineral Concentrate). The Group had communicated a production guidance of more than 900 kt-HMC in 2026, generally stable compared to 2025. An update on this guidance will be communicated as soon as the investigations provide better visibility and allow for a precise quantification of the effects on EGC's production. The teams responsible for the technical investigation have secured the facilities and are mobilized to manage the situation. An evaluation of the consequences on the organization of the teams is underway to define suitable support measures. A specific mechanism has been activated to ensure continuous communication with the local communities, including regular information updates.
Uncertainty Over Duration of Shutdown
The exact duration of the site shutdown remains undetermined at this stage. The precise financial impact of the incident on the production and results of the group has not been provided in the statement. Technical investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the fire and to assess the complete state of the affected facilities.
