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Lubrizol finally assumes its environmental responsibility

Ten days after the fire that ravaged the Lubrizol plant in Rouen, the CEO of the American company was there this weekend and he committed to pay the bill of the disaster. " Finally! Say all those who were surprised at the company's lack of reaction.

At first, only the boss of the French branch of this globalized society spoke without answering the crucial questions: in what Lubrizol is it responsible for the fire and especially who will bear the cost of the disaster? On Friday, the American CEO of the group came out of limbo by talking with Élisabeth Borne, the Minister of Ecology. Then he went to Rouen on Saturday to meet the employees of the company and to address the victims of this ecological disaster. " We will do everything we can to help Rouen, " promised Eric Schnur. The CEO of Lubrizol spoke about the Lubrizol Solidarity device put in place by the company to pay the damage.

Lubrizol is committed to compensate farmers ?

By announcing aid for farmers affected by the passage of a toxic cloud of smoke, Lubrizol assumes its environmental responsibility. This is the polluter pays principle. A principle that has a legal basis, the government could have ordered the company to trigger its environmental responsibility. The government preferred to exert pressure by often and publicly recalling Lubrizol to his duty. A strategy that has paid off. In addition, Lubrizol could face claims for compensation, provided that complaints were filed.

The CEO declined to discuss the future of the site

Too early, according to him, to say if the factory installed in Rouen for 60 years will reopen or not. One thing is certain, the group is attached to its French subsidiary, the largest abroad, besides the Rouen plant, two other Seveso sites, one near Le Havre and the other at Mourenx in the Pyrenees. -Atlantiques. Lubrizol generates 6 billion euros in sales, Lubrizol France more than one billion euros with 700 employees including 400 in Rouen. The employees of Rouen are also very shocked by the event; These men, who are experienced in firefighting techniques, first devoted their time to protecting the site. On Saturday, their union representatives asked for independent expertise to assess the impact of the fire on their health and that of the subcontractors.

If the conditions are not met to reopen the Rouen site, will it be redeployed elsewhere ?

This is the big question that worries Lubrizol employees. It will be necessary to compose between the priorities of the economy, those of the public health and those of the ecology. But it is unlikely that this plant will disappear completely from the landscape, as its activity is flourishing. One person in two has Lubrizol in his life, proclaims the communication of this old American company that started in 1928 in Ohio. It was created to support the automotive industry with the production of lubricants. Since then, she has diversified to all-out, she is also today a supplier of hair cosmetics or firefighting system. In 2011, this nugget of the old economy fell into the hands of Warren Buffet: the American billionaire has spent 6 billion euros to acquire this cash machine. Able to impose its prices in the hundred or so countries where it exports, because its technique is not imitable.

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