FRANCE — The French government has rejected a proposal to temporarily nationalize Fibre Excellence’s Saint-Gaudens pulp mill as efforts continue to find a buyer for the financially troubled facility. Industry Minister Sébastien Martin said nationalization was not the most appropriate solution, dismissing a request from Occitanie regional president Carole Delga for the state to take a temporary stake in the mill. The region has sought €15 million from the French government to help keep the operation viable while an industrial partnership is assembled. Alsace-based building materials company Soprema has been recruited through the regional investment agency to help form a consortium to restart the Saint-Gaudens mill. Fibre Excellence, owned by Indonesian businessman Jackson Wijaya, entered judicial restructuring in April. The Toulouse Commercial Court has granted additional time to find a solution for Saint-Gaudens, while Fibre Excellence’s Tarascon mill is headed for liquidation. [original story in French, translation by AI]