K+S Group said that as of Dec. 1 production at the Hattorf (Hersfeld-Rotenburg district) and Unterbreizbach (Wartburg district) sites will have to be suspended for the time being. K+S says until the Kassel Regional Council acts on its request to inject saline wastewater into the ground, that the only disposal site for the Werra plant is the Werra River.
The Council is currently working on a transitional solution that would enable a continuation of injection in a few weeks after a detailed technical assessment has been completed.
In order to bridge the period before a decision is made by the Council on the transitional regulation of injection, plant management and employee representatives have agreed that around 1,750 affected employees will work off their work hour accounts and remaining vacation.
As things stand, K+S does not anticipate any impact on deliveries to customers except in isolated cases. K+S said the expected EBIT I for the K+S Group of EUR 780 million to EUR 830 million for 2015 will probably also not be affected by this.