07-Jul-16 Force majeure remains on all of Total's polymer plants in France and there have been no additional supply disruptions following a strike on Tuesday, as per company sources in Platts. Total declared force majeure on all its polymer plants in late May, following a national labor strike. The source said the force majeure "remains at is" as the company had not reached the minimal survival stock level which will allow it to lift the measure.
"All plants are running at good levels [and Total is] monitoring the situation," the source added. Total is also accepting orders. The national strike on Tuesday did not have any impact on production. Total operates nine polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene plants including its joint venture with Ineos.
At Gonfreville, HDPE production capacity is 240,000 tpa, LDPE is 160,000 tpa, LLDPE is 80,000 tpa, PP is 210,000 tpa and PS is 50,000 tpa. In Carling, there is production capacity of 210,000 tpa LLDPE, 150,000 tpa of PS, as well as a newly started 30,000 tpa reinforced PP compound site. The Total-Ineos joint venture is at Lavera and hosts 300,000 tpa of PP production.
