A press release issued on October 23 by the Occitanie Region – led by Carole Delga – reveals that three letters of intent were submitted to the Toulouse Commercial Court on Thursday, October 22. These were filed by the Portuguese group Ghost, the French State, and the Occitanie Region, with the aim of continuing paper-manufacturing operations at the former Fibre Excellence site in Saint-Gaudens, in the South of France.
The objective is to bring a new industrial project to fruition, which includes restarting pulp production (envisioned within 12 months) and, in the longer term, developing downstream processing activities for high-value-added products (such as diapers, toilet paper, and paper towels). This would involve the construction of a 50,000-square-meter facility. The total investment is estimated at approximately €200 million.
Realizing this project, however, will require time. The State, the Region, and the Ghost group have indicated that they are continuing their efforts to secure the site’s future and organize a transition period, a process for which industrial, social, and environmental terms are already under discussion.
For over a year, the Occitanie Region has been actively seeking a takeover solution, having reached out to more than 130 industrial companies. These efforts led to the emergence of the proposal from the Ghost group, a Portuguese specialist in the manufacturing of hygiene and household paper products. Already a client of Fibre Excellence, Ghost operates in some 30 countries and encompasses several companies, including Suavecel, Nunex Worldwide, and Fortissue. For instance, Fortissue, established in 2015, produces parent reels of tissue paper (made from 100% virgin cellulose pulp) with an annual capacity of approximately 35,000 tons.
On October 19, at the initiative of Carole Delga, the head of Ghost presented his project and requirements to the Minister of Industry, Sébastien Martin. Following this discussion, the three partners confirmed their commitment to continuing the work necessary for the project’s realization, as evidenced by correspondence submitted to the Commercial Court.
However, in the absence of a finalized offer at this stage, judicial liquidation appears to be the most likely outcome, pending a decision from the Commercial Court, which is expected on November 3. Nevertheless, according to a statement from the Occitanie region, this situation does not jeopardize the prospects offered by this new project, which still requires several months of preparation.
Working meetings are now underway to manage this transition period, with two primary objectives: ensuring the best possible support for employees—notably by leveraging state-provided assistance programs—and securing and preserving the site’s industrial equipment and expertise, while remaining in compliance with environmental obligations.
This effort will continue in coordination with the Court and the legal bodies overseeing the proceedings, while ongoing discussions with Ghost aim to finalize the conditions necessary for the project’s implementation. Furthermore, Soprema remains committed to the industrial future of the site.
"For over a year now, we have been working alongside the employees, union representatives, and local elected officials to save Fibre Excellence," stated Carole Delga. "As we reach this new legal milestone, I am fighting to protect the workforce and preserve the future of the site. The leadership of the Ghost group requires time to bring to fruition a robust and ambitious industrial project, which includes an investment of €200 million. The Region remains fully committed."
Valérie Lechiffre