Philadelphia, Pa.-FMC Corp. said Nov. 30 that it will cease operations at its Foret phosphates plant in Huelva, Spain, by Dec. 31, 2010. The closure is due to a Spanish judicial ruling that prohibits Foret from adding byproduct gypsum to storage stacks near the Huelva site after Dec. 31, 2010. Foret has challenged the judicial ruling in the Spanish courts, and although the case is now in the appeals stage, a final judgment could take up to three years. According to Javier Carratala, FMC Foret managing director, the company has pursued access to a long-term supply of phosphoric acid to maintain back-end operations at the plant, but has been unable to secure a viable supply. The company has also explored other options to continue operations, but none have proved commercially viable. “Unfortunately, we have exhausted all alternatives to keeping the plant operating,” said Carratala. “We will be meeting with union representatives to plan for an orderly shutdown that will enable us to continue the current production schedule to meet our customer-contracted needs through the end of 2010.” 140 employees work at the plant that is to be closed.
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