Activity will restart “at the earliest between tonight and tomorrow (Friday) morning” and “at the end of the week at the latest”, announced Mr. Gerardin during a press conference inside the factory. Volvic (Danone group), in front of completely stopped production lines.
The damage is “difficult to quantify” and represents “a few million bottles over a day”, he added, condemning a “serious and intolerable” act.
The damage caused by the fire concerns “an isolated, protected technical room, which provides energy to our installations” and where “individuals broke in”: the room contained compressors in particular, he said. he continued, referring to “fairly strategic” equipment.
“Clearly yes, we can say that we have reached a milestone,” he said.
A complaint was filed and an investigation was opened, carried out by the gendarmerie research section, to try to clarify the course of events following this arson fire.
An inscription was found on a wall, saying: “Water extractivism? No, but water what”, since erased by the company.
At this stage, the action has not been claimed.
“Today, mineral producers in France represent 0.03% of water withdrawals in France, which is really very little,” underlined Mr. Gerardin.
“I thank a large part of the technical teams who are working today to do everything possible to ensure that (the factory) restarts as quickly as possible,” he added.
The company has set up a psychological unit for employees “who need it”.
The Volvic factory employs around 800 people, plus 200 temporary jobs.
