Sibanye-Stillwater considers closing Sandouville refinery, 106 jobs

South African mining group Sibanye-Stillwater announced at an extraordinary works-council meeting on 1 September 2026 the launch of a consultation on the possible closure in early 2027 of its nickel refinery in Sandouville, founded in 1888; the plant, idle since July 2025, still employs 106 people. The site, bought from Eramet in 2022, was to be converted under the 'CalliCam' project to battery cathode precursors (pCAM); that plan has been abandoned and the search for a buyer was unsuccessful (L'Usine Nouvelle, 3 September 2026, after Paris-Normandie). Update (05.10.2026): at a rally of around 100 workers outside the plant, Sibanye-Stillwater's head of France said two takeover offers were being examined, involving both the group and landowner Haropa, with no guarantee; a first wave of departures is planned for April 2027 (ICI Normandie, 05.10.2026).