- Soda production in Janikowo will cease by July 2025.
- Up to 350 employees face redundancies due to plant closure.
- Turkish soda captures 30% of the Polish market.
- Qemetica invests in a waste incineration plant in Inowrocław.
Plant Hibernation and Market Challenges
QEMETICA is preparing to hibernate its Janikowo soda plant by July 2025 due to high energy costs and competition from Turkish soda, which benefits from cheaper Russian raw materials and has captured 30% of the Polish market. The decision follows the impact of EU carbon emission allowance prices and environmental regulations that disadvantage European producers.
Impact on Employees
The hibernation will result in up to 350 redundancies. QEMETICA is in discussions with trade unions to offer retraining programs, voluntary redundancy schemes, and severance packages exceeding market standards. Around 90 employees will remain to oversee the hibernation process and maintain critical installations.
Conditions for Resuming Production
QEMETICA states that production in Janikowo could resume if national and EU-level actions are taken, such as introducing countervailing duties on Turkish soda, reducing energy costs, and revising environmental regulations. Without these changes, restarting production is not economically viable.
Commitment to Local Community
Despite the hibernation, QEMETICA will maintain heat supply and wastewater treatment services in Janikowo until 2028, allowing the city time to develop sustainable alternatives. The company remains open to future opportunities to restart production or repurpose the site.
Diversification and Investments
In response to the European chemical industry crisis, QEMETICA is diversifying operations and investing outside the EU, including acquiring a precipitated silica business in the USA. Additionally, a waste incineration plant in Inowrocław is being constructed to reduce energy costs and enhance competitiveness.
