Hydro plans fertilizer closures

Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian oil & energy, lights metals and agri group, announced on December 17, 1999 that it during the first half of 2000 will scale down its European fertilizer activity and close 1 million tons of nitrate fertilizer capacity. This represents about 20 percent of Hydro’s total nitrate capacity and is an important element in the efforts to restore profitiability in Hydro’s fertilizer operations.

Hydro has now presented its plans for clusures of plants to employees’ representatives and unions in accordance with procedures defined in national laws and regulations. The plans presented are to permanently reduce the nitrate fertilizer capcities at Immingham, UK, Landskrona, Sweden, and Montoir, France. The yearly reduction of nitrate capacities at these sites will be 660 000 tons, 200 000 tons and 200 000 tons respectively, totalling more than 1 million tons. It is a part of the plan to maintain terminal operations at all three sites.