February 20, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- INEOS has announced a €300 million investment, supported by French government grants, that will deliver the next phase of its Lavera regeneration plan and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 331,000 tonnes per annum—the equivalent of taking over 70,000 cars off the road each year. The programme will also improve the long-term competitiveness of one of France’s most important industrial assets, securing thousands of skilled jobs.
The French government is providing support under the ‘Appel d’Offres Grands Projets Industriels de Décarbonation’ (AO GPID) scheme, part of the France 2030 investment plan and operated by ADEME. AO GPID provides annual grants to support large industrial decarbonisation projects that deliver verifiable emissions reductions over a 15-year period to reduce France’s reliance on fossil-based energy.
At a time when chemical plants are closing across Europe due to pressure from high energy costs and global competition, this investment will provide stability for around 2,000 direct employees and more than 10,000 workers across the wider supply chain. Lavera is a central pillar of French manufacturing, with its products and pipelines feeding directly into essential value chains across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, aerospace, transport, clean energy, food packaging and defence. Maintaining these capabilities inside France is considered vital for industrial strength, economic resilience and the country’s long-term technological leadership, particularly as Europe faces rising dependence on imports from China and the United States.
The upgrades will make Lavera a profitable, lower-carbon facility with a clear pathway to net zero as electrification and carbon capture technologies mature. The investment will also support French circular economy objectives by enabling the Lavera cracker to process more sustainable feedstocks made from recycled plastics and bio-sourced materials, replacing fossil-based inputs.
Combined with the €250 million investment announced in November 2025, the total planned investment in the Lavera site now exceeds €550 million.
INEOS continues to call for urgent political action to restore competitiveness in Europe’s strategically vital chemical sector, warning that without such action, millions of jobs will be lost, emissions will rise, and key European industries will become dangerously dependent on imports.
The announcement underlines INEOS’ long-term commitment to France. The company stated it will work closely with the French Government throughout the investment programme, from planning through to delivery, to ensure Lavera remains competitive, resilient and aligned with France’s industrial and climate objectives.
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