Fire at Eramet Grande Côte’s mineral sands extraction unit: production suspended and force majeure declared

Core Viewpoint - A fire at Eramet Grande Côte's Wet Concentration Plant has led to a production shutdown and the declaration of force majeure, impacting operations significantly and suspending production guidance for 2026 [1][3][9]. Group 1: Incident Details - The fire occurred on February 22, 2026, and was contained by the same evening, with no reported casualties [9]. - The fire was confined to the first stage of the Wet Concentration Plant, while the second stage and the Mineral Separation Plant were unaffected [2][3]. - The shutdown of the Wet Concentration Plant will result in a prolonged suspension of operations across the entire site, with no restart date currently determined [3][9]. Group 2: Impact on Production and Operations - The company had previously projected production of over 900 kt of Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC) for 2026, but this guidance has now been suspended due to the incident [5][9]. - Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and assess the condition of the affected facilities, with updates to be provided as more information becomes available [3][10]. Group 3: Communication and Community Engagement - Eramet Grande Côte has notified affected customers and suppliers about the activation of force majeure provisions under relevant contracts [4][9]. - The company emphasizes the safety of employees and surrounding communities, implementing mechanisms for ongoing engagement and information updates with local stakeholders [8].