Belgian region puts huge Ineos chemical plant on hold
The Council for Licensing Disputes, a legal body, found that regional authorities had underestimated the risk that nitrogen emissions from the factory could contaminate a Dutch nature reserve.
The "Project One" ethane cracker (ECR) -- described by Ineo as "the largest investment in the European chemical sector in a generation" -- lies in Belgium inside Antwerp's industrial hub.
But it is also close to the Netherlands border and the Brabantse Wal nature reserve, an area of protected heathland and lakes. The Dutch region of North Brabant complained about the project.
The Belgian licensing agency upheld the Dutch complaint, ruling that Flanders should not have granted planning permission without studying the environmental effect on the protected area.
"The ruling means that, at least for now, Ineos Olefins Belgium does no longer have a permit for the construction of its ECR," the council said.
"The Flemish Government has to decide again on the permit application within a period of six months."
Ineos, a British multinational and reportedly the fourth biggest chemicals firm in the world, did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
The Project One plant has been under construction since last year and was supposed to be finished in 2026, with the promise of 450 direct jobs and thousands more in Belgium's key chemicals sector.
In its publicity materials, Ineos stressed the plant's environmental credentials, boasting that it will have "the lowest carbon footprint of all European crackers".
An ECR converts ethane into ethylene, an ingredient in plastics.
The huge investment cost of the plant was 3.5 billion euros, with 700 million backed by the UK government's UKEF export guarantee program, 400 million by Spain's CESCE and 100 million by Italy's SACE.
A further 800 million euros was covered by Gigarant, the investment vehicle of the Flemish government, which issued the building permit that is now in question.
Some 14 environmental organisations also opposed the construction of the plant and had lodged complaints of their own alongside the Dutch challenges, alleging a risk of microplastic pollution in waterways.
A citizens' collective that calls itself "Ineos Will Fall" hailed the council's decision.
"Campaigning works! After a hard battle of three years, we are finally winning the battle against the fossil industry and the way is open for a sustainable, climate-neutral port," it said.
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