SNPE: CEO Jacques Zyss thanked the government

The government ended Wednesday functions of the current CEO of the former National Society of explosives (SNPE) has announced the release of the Council of Ministers.

This would be one of the first steps of privatization of the company we were told.

"There is terminated the functions of Chairman of the Board of SNPE exercised by Jacques Zyss," says the report of the Council.

Remember, Bill 2009-2014 military program adopted on 29 October by the government included the SNPE, in a list of companies that can be privatized. According to Defense Minister Herve Morin, the goal would be to allow "the reorganization and restructuring of the company absolutely strategic".
The law aims to "enable the transfer to the private sector of society SNPE, its assets and its subsidiary SNPE Energetic Materials (EMS)". Recall that the state is a shareholder in this company, founded in 1971, up to 99,972%.

"I did not say that privatizing the SNPE, I said we put in place the elements to organize the restructuring of the SNPE", had indicated late October Defense Minister Herve Morin during a press conference, welcoming these developments, pointing out that the case is referred for 15 years. "We have initiated discussions with a number of French companies that will preserve the industrial base, skills and expertise we need," had he added.

The bill also makes possible "the establishment of a special share capital of the SNPE" or subsidiaries, "if necessary to protect national interests." Daily Finance and Investment Tips / Make Money by Learning

Speeches very interesting when we know that on 1 September 2001, three weeks before the disaster center of Toulouse chemical called AZF disaster, the site near the Great Parish plant - which had fallen recently in the bosom of Total - had been placed in Vigipirate strengthened, given the strategic activities of the site.

Mid-October 2008, the daily Les Echos said that the French state was preparing to privatize the company to allow its rapprochement with the French Safran. According to the newspaper, a decree should organize the transition from the propulsion SNPE, SNPE Energetic Materials (EMS) under the leadership of engine manufacturer Snecma Propulsion Solide (SPS), a subsidiary of Safran.

Safran has meanwhile never hidden his support for a reconciliation that would bring together its activities and the engine manufacturer propellant - explosive mixture for launching missiles and rocket Ariane - today within SNPE, all trained aisni not being more consistent.

"We are ready. This is an issue which has nine years and we would like to see the result but the state to decide", reiterated Wednesday a spokeswoman.

The two groups involved including the propulsion of the European launcher Ariane 5 and French nuclear missiles, whose future strategic intercontinental missile that must equip M51 from 2010 submarines of the French deterrent force.

If these two entities closer, France imitate the American model where the two domestic suppliers of solid propellants, Aerojet and ATK are both propellants (manufacturers of fuel for missiles and rockets) and engine manufacturers.

Such a project is not new .... Herakles the project was already in 1999 to bring the activities of solid propulsion and SNPE subsidiary of Safran, Snecma Propulsion Solide (SPS).

But since his appointment in July 2004, the CEO of the SNPE Jacques Zyss fought against this project, which would mean the disintegration of the historic company, whose very nature requires strategic - he said - serious precautions.

As a reminder, Jacques Zyss had replaced Jacques Loppion, CEO of the chemical group have reached the age of sixty-five, who was appointed on 25 September 2001, 4 days after 21 September 2001 day of the disaster itself AZF. His appointment was not without difficulty: unions in the SNPE had regarded as a provocation that Jacques Zyss has held office at Total, which owns through its subsidiary Grande Paroisse of the AZF factory in Toulouse. The explosion of chemical hub had led the government to ban the production of phosgene in the Rose City, causing a social plan affecting 492 positions at SNPE.

Recall that at the AZF disaster in Toulouse on 21 September 2001, the factory of the SNPE - separated from his "neighbor" to Total Grande Paroisse, by the width of the Garonne - had faced d 'significant financial consequences. The trial of the disaster that has ravaged the Rose City is now planned for its in February 2009.

If justice and victims associations seem eager to point the finger at the oil group to mega profits - which have already proved useful for compensation - just does not seem clear also that there appears on the folder. In any event, whatever the truth - if it appears one day - it seems increasingly likely that the state will seek to minimize as much as any little potential liability, for - among others - not to be forced to draw on already empty boxes.