Ineos Aromatics plant in Geel loses operating licence
The Council for Permit Disputes has annulled the licence for the chemical company Ineos Aromatics to operate in Geel and Laakdal. According to the council's president, Thursday's annulment means Ineos Aromatics must cease operations until a new licence can be obtained, but Ineos denies this.
The licence was granted by the Flemish government last year after the previous one expired. Two nature groups appealed, saying the government had not sufficiently investigated whether the company's cobalt discharges were too harmful to the water quality of the Grote Nete river.
The council agrees, saying the environmental impact report prepared as part of the permit process shows that the river would deteriorate based on the discharge standards. "As the cobalt pollution in the Grote Nete is already in the lowest quality class, 'not good', any deterioration of this parameter is in principle prohibited," it said.
"There is no question of closing down operations"
Ineos Aromatics says it is "shocked" by the decision and is reviewing it with legal advisers to consider the next steps. However, the company, which employs around 360 people, disagrees that operations should cease immediately.
"We are happy to point out that in the event of the revocation of a new licence without replacement, the applicant has the right to continue operations under the previous operating licence, which is reactivated, until the Environment minister makes a new decision," the company said. "So there is no question of closing down operations."
'Turning point'
The decision could be a "turning point" for other lawsuits and Flemish permit policy, say the nature associations BBL and Natuurpunt. They call it "a victory for more healthy watercourses and therefore healthy citizens" in Flanders.
Flemish business federation Voka compares the case to Flanders' nitrogen policy, where the lack of a clear framework compatible with European rules led to a crisis. "The quality of our watercourses hangs like a sword of Damocles over the Flemish economy," Voka said in response to the council's decision.
The Flemish government will have to make a new decision within three months, taking into account the annulment.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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