There is doubt about the milk needed for Fage’s new dairy factory in Hoogeveen. The Greek dairy giant wants to get as much of it from the region as possible to limit nitrogen emissions. But the Party for the Animals doubts whether this will work.
According to the regional department of the faction, the province of Drenthe wants to significantly reduce nitrogen emissions. This is done, among other things, by buying out dairy farmers. As a result, less milk would come from the region, the group wrote in a letter.
In that case, the Greeks would have to look outside the provincial borders for dairy for the factory. These journeys also produce more nitrogen emissions. Should the factory be built, the party wonders.
The provincial government acknowledges in a letter that it is struggling. Fewer dairy farms also mean less milk from the region. Yet that is no reason to reject a permit for Fage. There is no strict requirement where the company will get the milk from.
Drenthe says that the Greeks’ approach is always to get as much stock as possible from the area. Dairy farmers in the province can also work more sustainably, so that there are fewer emissions and companies can continue to exist.
The Fage factory is not there yet. A permit is still required to establish a location on the Riegmeer industrial estate. That application is now with the province.
Dessert makers Fage has wanted to open a factory in Hoogeveen for some time. About two years ago, nitrogen regulations thwarted the construction of the production hall. The company came up with a new plan and decided to make the factory fully electric.
This way no more nitrogen would be released. Problem solved, you might think, but that is not the case. Emissions are still released during the construction of the factory.
While the permit is being processed, the province is now investigating whether construction can continue if emissions remain limited. If the green light is given, this does not mean that the factory can be used immediately after construction.
Connection to the energy grid is required. Grid operators TenneT and Rendo are busy expanding the network in Drenthe, including at the Riegmeer business park. The station there should be completed in 2029 and Fage could get a connection a year later.
Nature clubs have not been gentle with the arrival of the Greek company in recent years. There was criticism of nitrogen emissions, which could be bad for surrounding nature. There were also concerns about water consumption in the factory.
The factory would require 2.5 million liters of water per day. After comments, that number was reduced by 90 percent.
Hoogeveen and the province would like to attract the dairy giant. The arrival of the company should create hundreds of jobs. Fage itself does not want to respond until the permit has been finalized.
