Evonik pushes green energy in port of Antwerp despite "devastating" Chinese competition
The German speciality chemicals company Evonik outlined its green energy plans for its site in the port of Antwerp during a port visit by Flemish Energy minister Melissa Depraetere on Tuesday. CEO Ivan Pelgrims took the opportunity to warn of "devastating" competition from China.
With a dozen production units and almost 1,000 employees, the site in the port of Antwerp is one of Evonik's largest and most important locations. At the end of last year, the German chemical giant received a new, unlimited licence from Flemish minister Zuhal Demir.
During a visit by Flemish Energy minister Melissa Depraetere, Evonik explained that it is moving full steam ahead with the transition to sustainable energy. It is installing a brand new 150,000-volt high-voltage substation, solar mirrors and wind turbines. In time, Evonik also aims to halve nitrogen and sulphur emissions and reduce drinking water consumption by more than 95 per cent.
Evonik's flagship CO2 reduction project is Ecluse, a steam network that transports heat from waste incineration, to which Flanders has contributed 9 million euros. "This not only reduces emissions, but also contributes to better air quality and allows nature to recover," says Depraetere. "We are helping companies to move towards a climate-neutral future. This is good for the planet and for our industry."
A green burden
Greening sites like Evonik's are necessary to meet the EU's goal of becoming a low-carbon economy by 2050. But they are a burden on European companies, says Ivan Pelgrims, CEO of Evonik Antwerp. The United States and China are not enforcing these rules, creating "devastating" and "unfair" competition for Europe, he says.
The chemical industry has also denounced Belgium's slow political decision-making and past policy decisions such as the closure of nuclear power plants. "There is an urgent need for a stronger industrial policy that will improve the international competitiveness of the chemical industry in the short term," said Ann Wurman, director of the Belgian chemical industry federation Essenscia.
#FlandersNewsService | The Evonik site in Antwerp. © BELGA PHOTO KRISTOF VAN ACCOM
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