The Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, announced this Tuesday in Arques (Pas-de-Calais) a new loan of 10 million euros for the Arc glassworks, which will start up again this very day its furnaces that have been stopped during the winter due to the soaring gas prices. “Activity is resuming at this emblematic company in the territory and it will continue to develop,” greeted the Delegate Minister for Industry, Roland Lescure, during a visit to the Arc France factory, which, according to the glass factory, is the eighth largest French industrial site and employs 4,500 people.
He said the announced loan was aimed at doubling a 10 million euro investment from the shareholder, PHP. This American investment fund took over the world leader in tableware in 2015, which was then close to declaring bankruptcy. This new impulse brings to 138.5 million euros the loans granted by the State since 2020 to Arc France.
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“That is a lot of money for Arc (…) but it is money that is well used to support the development of a company that is positioning itself for the future,” highlighted the minister, in particular the ongoing decarbonization projects for the place.
The glassmaker had temporarily shut down five of its eight gas-fired furnaces this winter amid rising prices resulting from the invasion of Ukraine. He has now restarted six, with a seventh restarted and an eighth under maintenance.
Upon arrival, the minister was detained by employees protesting against the pension reform, CSE secretary Patrice Bollengier told AFP.
Source: BFM TV
