Arkema’s Production Unit in Saint-Auban

Located in the Durance valley, in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, the Saint-Auban production unit was built in 1916 to meet national defense chlorine needs. Founded by the chemical company Compagnie des Produits Chimiques d’Alais et de la Camargue, the plant was part of the companies Péchiney, Péchiney Saint-Gobain, Rhône Poulenc, Elf Atochem, and Atofina.

In October 2004, the Saint-Auban plant joined the Arkema Group. In addition to its 230 employees, there are 120 employees working for contractor companies in fields ranging from transportation to maintenance. Today, it is a major source of employment in the region.

Activities of the Saint-Auban Plant

The core business of the Saint-Auban plant is the production of trichloroethane (T111), obtained from chlorine supplied by a form of electrolysis using a membrane process. The T111 is then sent to the Pierre-Bénite site and used in the manufacture of fluorinated gases, hydrofluorocarbons which Arkema markets under the Forane^® brand (refrigerants, expansion agents), and fluoropolymers sold under the Kynar^® brand.
The VRC chlorinated waste recovery workshop at the Arkema plant in Saint-Auban processes chlorinated waste through burning. With a capacity of 25,000 metric tons per year, this workshop provides for the recycling and recovery of chlorinated liquid and gaseous residues in the form of hydrochloric acid. This product, used in the synthesis of T111, is also sold as a chemical intermediate for pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

The plant has a physicochemical station that removes suspended matter, and a heavy metal treatment station.
The site places a great emphasis on the safety of people and facilities. Its safety approach is formally established through the implementation of a safety management reference system called AIMS (Arkema Integrated Management System).