Regular production has currently been suspended at the chemical sites in Leuna and Premnitz. The plants are only being operated in emergency mode to minimize safety risks and ensure an orderly shutdown.
The reason for this measure is the company's insolvency. According to the provisional insolvency administrator Lucas F. Flöther, negotiations on urgently needed interim financing failed. A so-called mass loan, which would have secured ongoing operations, did not materialize. Without this financial support, it was no longer possible to continue production on an economic basis.
In Leuna, Domo Caproleuna GmbH, with around 480 employees, and Domo Chemicals GmbH, with around 35 additional employees, are particularly affected. Around 70 people work for the company at the Premnitz site. This means that a total of almost 600 jobs is at risk. The wages and salaries of the employees are secured for the time being by the insolvency money.
Safety of the systems is paramount
The insolvency administrator emphasized that the controlled shutdown of the chemical plants was a top priority. With complex production processes, and especially in the winter months, uncontrolled shutdowns could lead to significant technical damage. The current emergency operation therefore serves exclusively to secure the plants and not to maintain ongoing production.
Whether and when the plants can be restarted is currently unclear. A prolonged shutdown carries the risk of serious damage and could make it considerably more difficult or even impossible to restart operations later. For the long-established chemical site in Leuna, a permanent loss of production would be a serious blow.
Trade unions call for political support
The future of the company also remains uncertain. The insolvency administrator is continuing to examine restructuring and sale scenarios, but there are no concrete prospects yet. Trade unions are voicing sharp criticism and calling for political support to preserve jobs and industrial value creation.
The Leuna Chemical Park is one of the most important industrial sites in central Germany. The insolvency of Domo Chemicals therefore not only affects the workforce but also raises fundamental questions about the future of the energy- and capital-intensive chemical industry in Germany.
