Sweetwater County Soda Ash Plant to Cut 350 Jobs

WE Soda announced Wednesday that it will cut 350 positions at its Westvaco operations in Sweetwater County over the next two years. The London-based company said it is converting its underground trona mining process to in-situ solution recovery. This drill-and-pump method requires fewer workers but produces less soda ash. Layoffs will begin in January.

The company stated the change is necessary to remain competitive against low-cost exports from China. WE Soda CEO Alasdair Warren described the market as a long downturn. He noted that previous industry slumps lasted about 18 months, while the current one has persisted for four years. Warren said the shift aims to preserve the company's Wyoming operations for the future.

The transition will reduce the workforce from approximately 850 to 500. Annual soda ash production will drop by more than 1.5 million metric tons. The company plans to reduce sales in export markets where prices are no longer viable. It will focus its remaining output on the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Gov. Mark Gordon and Gov.-elect Eric Barlow issued a joint statement supporting the affected workers. They promised coordination between the Department of Workforce Services, state unemployment insurance staff, and Western Wyoming Community College. The leaders said they are also in discussions with federal officials and other stakeholders to address industry pressures.

Marshal Cummings, president of United Steelworkers Local 13214, said the news blindsided local workers. He warned the cuts will devastate families and the local economy in southwest Wyoming. Cummings noted that 2,500 workers in the region earn decent salaries in this industry. He criticized domestic policies, such as high rail freight costs, that make American soda ash harder to compete with foreign products.

The state's largest global export commodity, soda ash, generates $1.3 billion annually. It is used in glass manufacturing and household products. The Wyoming Energy Authority recently recommended a $13 million grant to WE Soda to connect a natural gas pipeline to the Westvaco site. The company needs natural gas to fuel its boilers as its coal supplier closes the nearby Kemmerer coal mine in 2029.

WE Soda said it will offer alternative roles within the business to minimize job losses. The company acknowledged the difficulty of the day for colleagues and their families. It stated that structural change is required to maintain its presence in the state.