At the end of last year, Ineos received an environmental permit from the Province of Antwerp for preparatory works for the so-called “Project One”. Ineos wants to invest in new installations for the production of ethylene and propylene. This is one of the largest chemical investments in the port of Antwerp in decades, but about 56 hectares of forest would have to be cut down.
But a number of nature associations soon appealed against those plans, after which the file shifted to the Flemish level.
After a (conditionally) favorable advice from the Regional Environmental Permit Commission (GOVC), the Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir issued the environmental permit to the investment project. “Since the site is located in a port area, intended for industry, it can indeed be deforested to make these extra economic activities possible”, the N-VA minister said.
After that decision, fourteen nature associations immediately started an urgent procedure with the Council for Permit Disputes to have the permit suspended. After an initial investigation, the Board has now agreed with them. After all, not enough account would be taken of the environmental impact that the project could cause.
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