FMC pledges pollution cleanup after Cheminova factory closure

FMC Corporation says it will continue to meet its environmental obligations after its Rønland factory, formerly known as Cheminova, closes at the end of 2026, DR reports.

In a written response to DR, company spokesperson Kaitlin O’Shaughnessy said the US-owned company’s environmental obligations are independent of future production decisions.

“Monitoring and remediation will continue in close cooperation with the relevant authorities,” she said.

The factory on Harboøre Tange by the Limfjord produces mainly agricultural pesticides and employs more than 400 people. It is Lemvig Municipality’s largest workplace.

The closure has raised concerns about the future handling of contamination in the local environment. FMC currently voluntarily pumps up contaminated groundwater and treats it to prevent pollution from reaching the surrounding environment.

DR asked FMC how long it plans to continue groundwater treatment after the factory closes. The company did not provide a specific timetable, but said it would stand by its environmental obligations.

FMC said it would work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that remediation activities remain appropriate, technically feasible and effective, including the current pump and treat system.

The company also said it would continue to meet its obligations “regardless of the outcome of the negotiations”.

FMC announced on Tuesday that it planned to stop production at Rønland and close the factory at the end of 2026. The decision is part of a strategy to optimise the company’s global production structure.

The company said the factory’s cost level made it difficult to compete effectively in the current market. FMC did not say how long the closure plans had been under consideration, but said it regularly reviews its activities as part of its normal business planning.