Six years of struggle, a pre-emption, several appeals for help and finally the end of the tunnel. Closed in 2019 by the Finnish group UPM, the Chapelle Darblay paper mill in Grand-Couronne, Seine-Maritime, is set for a second life. While the takeover project put together by Fibre Excellence and Veolia was still 27 million euros short of completion, the French government has just announced that it will be acquiring a stake in the plant. Confirmed on June 6, 2025, this investment marks the end of a social confrontation lasting almost six years, marked by the ongoing mobilization of former employees, the CGT union and local elected representatives.
On September 10, 2019, UPM announced the closure of this paper recycling facility. At the time, the plant processed the sorting output of 25 million people, and boasted a biomass boiler and biological treatment plant, both of which will be brought back into service. Despite the announced de-industrialization, three CGT shop stewards remained on site and, together with former employees, led a relentless fight against the definitive disappearance of this industrial tool.
52 million euros from the French government for the Veolia and Fibre Excellence project
Métropole Rouen Normandie took the first decisive step in May 2022, when it pre-empted the site to guarantee its use as a paper mill. It then sold the site to Veolia and Fibre Excellence. France's leading producer of merchant pulp, owned by the Canadian Domtar group, needed public support to finalize its financing package, and after months of waiting and negotiation, it was able to obtain it a final letter sent by Métropole Rouen Normandie, Ville de Grand-Couronne and CGT to Industry and Energy Minister Marc Ferracci on May 22 he had run out of patience.
The State's response is therefore one of delivery. According to information reported by Le Figaro the French government will inject 27 million euros in equity capital via the Banque Publique d'Investissement (BPI), supplemented by 25 million euros in subsidies, for a total of 52 million euros. This support is conditional on raising 160 million euros from banks. "This is a decisive event and the end of a six-year battle" said Julien Sénécal, former secretary of the CSE, who is now confident of the banks' support.
A PPO plant in operation by 2028
Production is scheduled to resume in 2028. The former newsprint mill will then be converted into a corrugated board paper (CBP) mill, a growth sector driven by e-commerce and plastic reduction. In addition to a biomass boiler and a wastewater treatment plant, the project includes rehabilitation of the railroad line and river access to the Seine. The project could generate up to 200 direct jobs.
Local support played a key role. Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, Mayor of Rouen, publicly welcomed the outcome on network X (formerly Twitter). Abdelkrim Marchani, vice-president of Métropole Rouen Normandie, hailed on ICI Normandie "a collective success" that could attract other manufacturers.
In a press release published on June 7, the CGT underlines the unfailing determination of the 217 PapChap employees, as the former workers call themselves. The union recalls the many obstacles they have overcome: health crisis, Lubrizol fire, change of government and political reversals. "Victory at last! (...) This example should give confidence to all those who fight to work and live with dignity!" .
