Flanders allocates extra subsidies to support climate transition in industry
The Flemish government is making additional funds available to support industry in the climate transition. Nine companies will receive 70 million euros to invest in large-scale electric boilers and heat pumps.
The funding comes through transition contracts to replace natural gas installations and achieve CO2-free heat production, resulting in annual savings of more than 82,000 tonnes of CO2, according to minister president Matthias Diependaele.
The biggest savings would be at TotalEnergies in Antwerp, which would save 26,660 tonnes of CO2 a year with a large-scale e-boiler. The Tiense Suikerraffinaderij sugar refinery is investing in heat pumps to reuse residual heat from the production process and reduce its CO2 emissions by 21,600 tonnes a year.
Low-emission future
“Our industry is the engine of our economy. Our companies are struggling with high energy prices and high costs to make their production more sustainable,” said Diependaele. “If we want to keep them here, we must help our industry to innovate and strengthen itself.”
Further targeted measures to help energy-intensive industries transition to a low-emission future focus on infrastructure, affordable energy, innovation and financing. New CO2 and hydrogen networks will be created so companies can switch to electric processes, hydrogen and circular raw materials.
"If we want to keep them here, we must help our industry to innovate and strengthen itself"
Flanders is also granting an additional 45 million euros to 14 energy-intensive companies that were severely affected during the energy crisis of 2022-2023, partly due to the passing on of indirect emission costs.
These include ArcelorMittal, BASF, Nyrstar, Air Liquide and Aperam. The support is in addition to the 270 million euros that had already been agreed for this year.
These companies have to pay CO2 rights for their emissions, the price of which rose sharply in those years. They have already received a 75 per cent refund from the Flemish government. After consultation with the European Commission, the government has been given permission to increase this compensation to 95 per cent.
#FlandersNewsService | The TotalEnergies plant in Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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