FRANCE – Two killed in explosion at Elkem silicones plant in France

Two employees died after an explosion struck an Elkem-operated silicones facility in Saint-Fons near Lyon, France, on 22 December 2025. The blast occurred in a pilot workshop at the site, where the international chemical company manufactures silicone products.

Four additional workers were injured in the incident, three of them seriously. Two of the injured employees remain in hospital.

Following the accident, Elkem temporarily halted operations at both the North and South sections of the Saint-Fons facility. The shutdown began several days earlier than the plant’s scheduled year-end closure, which is set to run until 5 January 2026.

Elkem said it is working closely with local authorities to manage the response to the incident. Internal company investigators, alongside French authorities, have launched separate inquiries to determine the cause of the explosion.

In a statement, Elkem CEO Helge Aasen expressed condolences to the families of the deceased employees, saying the company was deeply shaken by the loss. He added that Elkem is committed to supporting affected employees and their families and to identifying measures to prevent similar accidents in the future, stressing that workplace and environmental safety remain central to the company’s priorities.

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