Duralex, a company at the heart of the energy crisis. Guest of Good Morning Business this Tuesday, November 22, its general director José Luis Llacuna explained that the loan of 15 million euros that the State granted him to “spend the winter” would not allow his glass shop to restart its furnace:
“Passing the winter is a shortcut, because energy prices for this winter, especially for the months of December, January and February, have dropped, but they are still around 1,000 euros per MWh. At this price it is impossible to continue producing, so this kiln standby mode, operational since November 1, is not in question, nor is the restart from April 1 in question.”
A loan that of course will have to be repaid, explained the CEO of Duralex, recalling the rest of the state support measures:
“We are adding debt, fortunately Duralex is doing well. We will end 2022 with a turnover of 30 million euros, compared to 23 million last year. The State, today, is helping us in other ways with part-time work and the plan Resilience of Ukraine”. on which Duralex should receive 800,000 euros this year and around one million euros next year, a total subsidy.
A loan to secure the future
What is the same to ensure the future of the company, while its energy bill has skyrocketed in recent months:
This loan “guarantees the sustainability of the company, with 10 million euros more in energy this year, this money should have been there to pay the bills, to pay for innovation, to pay for the maintenance of the industrial tool, so this money helps above all to ensure the sustainability of the work, the company and the brand”.
It is also an opportunity to take stock of energy prices. Duralex has already bought its light for the second and third quarters, “around 800-900 euros per MWh,” says José Luis Llacuna, “for the month of April I bought it 10 times less (expensive).”
Buying made in Europe, “is very important”
While shipping prices have fallen sharply, “rising to $18,000 last year, barely $2,000 today,” glass imports from China are picking up again. “It’s normal (to buy from China again), but we need the support of consumers because otherwise the European industry is doomed to a difficult future.”
“The French have appropriated this brand and they help us. Every time I make a public intervention, our sales on our commercial site triple in 24-48 hours. The French want to protect our brand and I ask them to continue buying Products Duralex and French and European products is very important”, concluded José Luis Llacuna.
Source: BFM TV
