Dutch provinces to withdraw objection against Ineos project in Antwerp

The Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Zeeland have agreed to suspend their legal challenge against the permit for Ineos’ ethane cracker project in the Port of Antwerp. This preliminary agreement with Flanders aims to ease tensions and pave the way for further negotiations to fully end the Dutch provinces’ opposition.

In early September, North Brabant and Zeeland lodged an appeal against the latest permit issued to Ineos. The British chemical company was going to invest 4 billion euros to build an ethane cracker in the Port of Antwerp. However, that would lead to excessive nitrogen deposition in the sensitive Brabantse Wal nature reserve, which borders the Flemish-Dutch region, the two provinces argued. 

The Dutch opposition sparked strong criticism from Flemish officials, including Antwerp’s former port alderman Annick De Ridder, who described the appeal as “an act of pure aggression.” However, after a recent meeting in Middelburg, where minister-president Diependaele emphasised that updated studies show the project will not worsen nitrogen fallout in the region, the Dutch provinces assured the Flemish government that they would not seek a suspension of the permit.

The preliminary agreement is a breakthrough after years of strained relations. Lifting immediate legal pressure, it will allow for further dialogue between the provinces and Flanders to resolve long-standing disagreements over nitrogen levels affecting shared natural areas. 

Further negotiations between the Dutch provinces and Flanders aim to fully end legal action and reinforce cooperation on cross-border environmental issues.

^{​#FlandersNewsService | The construction site of the ethane cracker project in the Port of Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}