220 Cheshire jobs to be cut at Tata Chemicals Europe
TATA Chemicals Europe, the soda ash manufacturer based in Cheshire, has announced plans to cut 220 jobs – some 38% of its workforce – in a restructuring driven by high energy prices.
The India-owned group said the proposals were “in order to secure a sustainable and successful future” for the business. After the restructuring the business will employ 360 people in Cheshire.
A 45-day consultation has begun at the former Brunner Mond operation. Tata Chemicals is is planning to close its soda ash and calcium chloride factory in Winnington, retain and expand the sodium bicarbonate factory in Winnington and retain its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate factories in nearby Lostock Gralam.
Sister company, Middlewich-based British Salt is unaffected by this proposal.
In a statement the company said: “This action is in response to the serious threat posed by high and rising energy prices.”
It continued: “Closure of Winnington’s soda ash plant would enable TCE to reconfigure the combined heat and power plant supplying power and steam to both Winnington and Lostock in order to make it more sustainable and reduce its massive energy costs.”
Managing director Martin Ashcroft said: “It is hugely regrettable that we’ve had to announce proposed redundancies today, but it is necessary to secure a sustainable future for our business.
“In the face of high and rising gas prices, we have to reconfigure our business to focus on higher-value products and reduce our energy bill in order to continue manufacturing in Northwich. We believe that this proposal will help TCE to achieve that.”
