French chemical industry news

• 

  28 May 2026

  Aptar Pharma files patents and reports preclinical proof‑of‑concept for intranasal and pulmonary GLP‑1 delivery

  Published three international patent applications for nasal/pulmonary GLP‑1 formulations (spray‑dried/powder). Preclinical semaglutide PK shows up to 10× Cmax vs oral; ongoing biologics delivery work.
• 

  28 May 2026

  TotalEnergies Files Authorization for 1.5 GW Centre Manche Energies Offshore Wind

  Operator submitted Single Authorization for Normandy offshore wind farm; expects ~6 TWh/yr, >1M homes, €4.5bn investment, 2,500 construction jobs, ongoing stakeholder consultations
• 

  28 May 2026

  EIB loans €300M to Limagrain to boost seed R&D

  €300M InvestEU-backed loan under TechEU to fund seed genetic R&D: improve yields, disease/drought resistance, nutrient use, nutritional and environmental traits to bolster EU agricultural sovereignty.
• 

  27 May 2026

  BASF Coatings wins Sustainability Award for overspray‑free two‑tone paint process

  Overspray‑free wet‑on‑wet two‑tone (OFLA) uses digital paint jets for 100% transfer efficiency, cutting energy ~25% (~1.7 GWh/yr), ~300 t CO2/yr, and reducing masking waste and paint use.
• 

  27 May 2026

  Synthos awarded EcoVadis Gold for second consecutive year

  Ranked in the 97th percentile (top 3%); highest scores in Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Environment. Will use findings to advance ESG actions, UNGC participation and ESRS/GRI reporting.
• 

  27 May 2026

  Woosh, Borouge & BlueAlp close diaper-plastic loop with ISCC‑certified pyrolysis oil

  Used diaper plastics collected, mechanically separated and chemically recycled into ISCC‑certified pyrolysis oil for new polymer production, demonstrating industrial-scale circularity in Europe

• 

  22 May 2026

  EU awards €400m to 65 projects to decarbonise industrial heat

  Across 10 EEA countries, projects deploy heat pumps, resistance, solar thermal and hybrids in sectors like pulp, steel, glass and food - avoiding 6.6M tCO2 over 10 years. Grant deals expected H2 2026.
• 

  21 May 2026

  ADNOC deploys Taurob heavy‑duty inspection robot and co‑develops operator robot

  Inspector robot conducts autonomous hazardous-site inspections with LiDAR and thermal imaging. A heavy-duty operator robot to lift, grip and turn valves in extreme temperatures — operational 2026.
• 

  20 May 2026

  BASF and Cromology convert end‑of‑life tires into binder for Tollens Maxiline+ wall paint

  Chemically recycled styrene-acrylate binder from tire pyrolysis oil used in interior wall paint via mass-balance. REDcert² certified; 10 L ≈ 2 tires; reduces fossil feedstock and CO₂.
• 

  12 May 2026

  Messer Belgium builds sustainable air separation plant at North Sea Port

  €60M investment creates 30 jobs to produce oxygen, nitrogen and argon; construction starts mid‑May, commissioning by 2028, CO2‑free operation using green electricity; serves Lille‑Rotterdam axis
• 

  12 May 2026

  TotalEnergies signs MoU with Syrian Petroleum Company for Block 3 offshore exploration

  MoU creates a framework for technical review and commercial discussions to assess exploration of offshore Block 3 in Syria's Mediterranean.
• 

  12 May 2026

  Eni and MSC Cruises test Enilive HVO diesel on cruise ship

  Pure HVO ran ~2,000 hours on a ship engine with no modifications; matched fuel performance, cut NOx ~16% and particulates, and cut lifecycle GHG ~80%. Validated by maker and independent certifier.
• 

  12 May 2026

  Iberdrola grows Italy renewable capacity to 450 MW with 40 MW Basilicata wind acquisition

  Commissioned in 2018, the plant has long‑term incentives ensuring stable cash flows. Near Lucania Complex, it complements Montelungo (20 MW), Etruria and Fenix (243 MW).
• 

  11 May 2026

  Sumitomo Corporation: Noirmoutier 500 MW Offshore Wind Farm in France Begins Commercial Operation

  Construction complete; commercial operation started. 12 km offshore; ~25‑yr life. Annual output ≈ supply for 800k users. Power sold under long‑term fixed‑price PPA; financed via syndicated loan.
• 

  8 May 2026

  Clariant Q1 2026: Resilient performance amid Middle East conflict

  Q1 sales down 2% (CHF918m); EBITDA margin fell to 17.5% (-130bp). Free cash-flow conversion rose to 54%. CHF80m savings program on track; 2026 guidance unchanged amid conflict
• 

  7 May 2026

  UPM, Michelman and BOBST launch EU‑compliant bio‑based paper packaging concepts

  Two paper packaging concepts for EU SUPD: fiber papers with bio-based coatings giving moisture/mineral-oil and oxygen barriers, wide heat-seal window, recyclable/compostable, production-ready.
• 

  6 May 2026

  Heidelberg Materials Q1 2026: solid start

  Q1 revenue and RCO down; cost measures & Transformation Accelerator saved €405m; acquisitions in Australia and Turkey; new efficient kiln; dividend +9% and buyback continue; outlook confirmed.
• 

  5 May 2026

  Heidelberg Materials commissions 1.25 Mt/yr Airvault kiln line to improve efficiency and reduce CO2

  1.25 Mt/yr dry kiln replaces old lines; enables ~90% alternative fuels, reduces electricity ~10% and CO2 ~30%; €350M upgrade includes calcined-clay use and CCUS (1 Mt/yr).
• 

  4 May 2026

  SPIE appoints Markus Holzke Group CEO and updates executive committee

  Appointment effective after Apr 30, 2026 AGM. Rainer Hollang named CEO for Germany/Switzerland/Austria. Executive committee membership reorganized.
• 

  4 May 2026

  DOMO Engineered Materials acquired by Lone Star Funds; TECHNYL® included

  Fund affiliate buys engineered materials unit: three EU plants, global subsidiaries, IP/brand, sales, application center and masterbatch ops; Belle Étoile excluded; leadership continuity planned.
• 

  1 May 2026

  LyondellBasell sells select European polymers assets to AEQUITA

  Sale of select European olefins and polyolefins sites in Berre, Münchsmünster, Carrington and Tarragona closes; APS stays in Tarragona. Divested unit renamed Velogy to sharpen portfolio and capital
• 

  30 April 2026

  Lhyfe to supply green hydrogen to BMW Group’s Steyr R&D centre

  Multi-year deal to supply green hydrogen to an Austrian R&D site for development and validation of third-gen fuel-cell systems; first Austrian deliveries via bulk transport; RFNBO-certified.
• 

  29 April 2026

  ROSI raises €20m+ to scale PV recycling in Europe

  €20M+ plus EU grants to fund industrial expansion: 10,000 t/yr solar-panel recycling plant in Spain, scalable automated line, new production director appointed, recycling partnership renewed
• 

  29 April 2026

  AkzoNobel adds Iris CMX drone for precise aircraft coating inspections

  Aerofleet adds a contact-sensor drone to pair with its visual-scan drone, capturing thickness, color and gloss. Dual-drone inspections take ~30 min, improving repaint timing and cutting costs.
• 

  29 April 2026

  BASF Coatings switches European production to renewable electricity

  Completed Europe-wide switch to renewable power, complementing low-CO2 supply in France. Measure cuts Scope-2 emissions, supports 40% per-ton CO2 reduction by 2030 and improves product footprints.
• 

  29 April 2026

  TotalEnergies completes 50% acquisition of EPH flexible power portfolio in Europe

  Creates TTEP: 14 GW flexible gas/biomass + BESS across Italy, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, France; ~30 TWh output in 2025; tolling contracts; 5 GW development pipeline.
• 

  28 April 2026

  dsm-firmenich sells Action Pin to AP Marensin

  Announced Apr 28, 2026: sale of Action Pin (Castets, France), 110 employees, ~€50M sales in 2025; transaction pending regulatory approvals; financial terms undisclosed.
• 

  24 April 2026

  TotalEnergies greenlights Mirny 1 GW wind and 600 MWh BESS in Kazakhstan

  FID taken and financing secured for Kazakhstan wind+BESS project; $1.2B investment (75% external). 25‑yr PPA; ~100 TWh over 25 yrs to power ~1M people. Partners: 60/20/20; Saft supplies BESS.
• 

  24 April 2026

  EMA recommends Redemplo for adults with familial chylomicronaemia syndrome (FCS)

  siRNA blocking APOC3 cut triglycerides 80% vs 17% in trial; lowered acute pancreatitis rates; given subcutaneously every 3 months; common AEs: hyperglycaemia, headache, nausea.
• 

  22 April 2026

  Axens CAM factory wins Net Zero label and C3IV approval

  MACARON CAM plant chosen among 150 major strategic projects; recognized as strategic for EU battery supply chains, will seek permits with public inquiry in summer 2026, FID mid‑2027, production 2030.