Engie Electrabel has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Flemish government to refuse a permit for the Vilvoorde gas-fired power plant. The energy producer goes to the Council for license disputes because, according to them, the plant “meets all license requirements”.
In mid-September, Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) refused an environmental permit for Engie’s new gas-fired power station in Vilvoorde. According to Demir, a technical review showed that Engie does not use all the best available techniques to keep emissions to a minimum.
Engie will now appeal against that decision and went to the Council for Permit Disputes for this on Friday. “We are convinced that the plant complies with all permit requirements and are also convinced of the quality of this project,” Engie said on Wednesday through her spokesperson. “We want to participate in a next CRM auction if the government should come to the conclusion that there is a need for the capacity of a new plant to meet the security of supply.”
tug-of-war
The tug-of-war over the construction of a new gas-fired power station in Vilvoorde has been dragging on for some time. In the summer of 2021, the Flemish Brabant deputation refused at first instance the permit for the construction of the power station with a capacity of about 870 MW. The plant would emit too much nitrogen, ammonia and CO2. Engie appealed to the Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA), but he confirmed the deputation’s decision.
After some detours, Vilvoorde’s file ended up on Minister Demir’s table a second time, and then Engie bit the sand a second time in mid-September.
core exit
The discussion about the new gas-fired power stations is inextricably linked with the (federal) discussion about the nuclear phase-out. The question is how many gas-fired power stations are needed to absorb the loss of nuclear capacity. Minister Demir makes no secret of the fact that this discussion is on her hips. “If I were to be sure that we will remain in nuclear energy, there was no need for a permit and no additional permits were required. Not even the one in Tessenderlo,” it sounded in September. The N-VA minister then issued an environmental permit for the gas power plant of TDS, a subsidiary of Tessenderlo Chemie, in Tessenderlo.
Demir points the finger at Green. According to her, that party has “skilled the nuclear energy file” which, according to her, “the chances of a blackout have increased enormously”. “In those circumstances, Flanders takes its responsibility in all permit applications, insofar as they meet our environmental conditions,” said the N-VA minister.
Demir again refuses permit for gas-fired power plant in Vilvoorde, power plant in Tessenderlo does receive a permit
Five reasons why it may already be too late to stop the nuclear phase-out (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.