Belgian soil research firm ABO-Group secures €10m contract for French naval base

Ghent-based environmental engineering firm ABO-Group has secured a €10 million contract with the French Navy for soil research linked to the reinforcement of the Toulon naval base, De Tijd reports. That base is home to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and France’s nuclear submarines.

The announcement sent ABO-Group’s shares soaring nearly 13 per cent on Thursday. The deal, awarded to a French subsidiary, forms part of a broader €25 million portfolio of defence contracts with France’s Ministry of Armed Forces.

CEO and founder Frank De Palmenaer stated the work involves underground studies to support infrastructure for secure submarine docking, reflecting a wider military trend to expand underground capacity. The contract also covers reinforcement of aircraft carrier berths.

ABO, traditionally focused on small-scale soil studies, now handles comprehensive geotechnical, ecological, and archaeological assessments. Recent growth has come from acquisitions (15 niche firms in five years) that boost capabilities in undersea surveys and defence infrastructure.

Defence has emerged as a key growth driver for the group, which forecasts 2025 revenue of €105-110 million, up from €95.9 million in 2024. The company is also active in mining, transport infrastructure, and upcoming nuclear energy projects across France.

Founded and still majority-owned by De Palmenaer, ABO-Group employs 800 staff across Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.

^{#FlandersNewsService | An unidentified nuclear-powered attack submarine (SNA - Sous-marin nucleaire d'attaque) of the French army at Toulon naval base © CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP}