Eramet Grande Côte declared force majeure on February 22, 2026, following a fire at its Wet Concentration Plant (WCP) in Senegal. The incident, which was successfully contained with no reported casualties, necessitated an immediate shutdown of the affected extraction unit. The company has suspended its 2026 heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) production guidance, which had been established at over 900,000 tonnes annually.
The facility is expected to cease operations entirely by the end of March 2026 as the company conducts comprehensive technical investigations into the incident's cause and assesses damage to critical infrastructure. The force majeure declaration relieves the company from certain contractual obligations during the suspension period, a standard provision invoked in cases of unforeseeable circumstances beyond operational control.
The production suspension represents a significant disruption to Eramet's mineral extraction operations in West Africa. The duration of the facility halt remains indefinite pending the outcome of technical reviews and remediation efforts required to restore operational capacity.