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McCain is planning a huge French fries factory in Lower Saxony – 600 jobs at risk!
McCain Foods is planning a billion-dollar chip factory in Lower Saxony that could create 600 jobs. Concerns from the citizens' initiative are increasing.
McCain is planning a huge French fries factory in Lower Saxony – 600 jobs at risk!
The plans for a new French fries factory in Lower Saxony are taking shape. McCain Foods, the Canadian food giant, is planning to build a large factory on the site of the former coal port in Mehrum near Lehrte. An investment of up to one billion euros is currently being sought, which could employ many regions in northern Germany.
The creation of up to 600 jobs is expected, which will be a welcome economic boost for the region. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, headed by Grant Hendrik Tonne, has already pledged its support. He has signed a letter of intent and is seeking to secure federal funding to advance the project. According to NDR, letters have already been sent to the responsible federal ministries in order to acquire the necessary financial resources.
But the project is not without controversy. The citizens' initiative “Livable Hämelerwald” expresses concerns about the transport infrastructure. Critics fear that the construction of the factory could lead to an increase in truck traffic. Up to 800 trucks are expected to drive through Hämelerwald every day. This could become a real problem, especially for residents. A number of the initiative's banners make these concerns clear in the region.
Opportunities for agriculture
Despite the critical voices, there are also many who see the plans positively. Farmers in the area are considering the possibility of McCain sourcing local potatoes as a raw material for making fries. The plans include processing potatoes from a radius of 100 kilometers, which could provide new sales opportunities for local agriculture. According to the farmers' association, the new factory could process several hundred thousand tons of potatoes per year. The idea of creating communal storage areas for these potatoes is also being discussed, but requires binding commitments from the farmers.HNA also reports that transport could possibly take place via the Mittelland Canal, which would improve logistics would make it much easier.
However, the decision on the final construction is still pending; The earliest possible start of operations for the factory would be in 2028. The manufacturing sector, which also includes the food industry, is an integral part of the Lower Saxony economy and plays an important role in the regional economy. Statistics of Lower Saxony provides important data and insights on this. Ultimately, Lower Saxony is constantly working to expand its industrial base and consolidate it through innovative projects like this.
So it remains to be seen whether all facets of the project will ultimately come together to form a coherent overall picture. The coming months will show whether McCain's plan in Mehrum actually takes shape or whether the concerns of the citizens' initiative and other challenges can slow down the construction plan.