Sibelgas, a small intermunicipal company with five municipalities, should decide before the end of the year about a merger with other municipalities or intermunicipal companies. Practically impossible, it says. “Suddenly in July an amendment was made to the decree with that limit of 200,000 connections. That condition was not there before,” says Christian Viaene, adviser to Sibelgas.
In the Fluvius constellation, Sibelgas was given the opportunity to join Fluvius Zenne-Dijle. This new structure must be created by the merger of the Flemish Brabant intermunicipal companies Iverlek and PBE. But in the northern fringe there is little enthusiasm for such a large structure dominated by Mechelen and Leuven.
Sibelgas chairman Hans Bonte sees two options. “Or the landscape is simplified into one Flemish structure with all municipalities that is much more effective. Either the reference regions are taken into account.”