Ineos secures €2M Flemish grant for Antwerp ethane cracker, despite environmental criticism and past permitting issues over nitrogen emissions.
Ineos, the UK-based chemical giant, is set to receive a €2 million grant from the Flemish government in support of its Project One initiative, located at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. The financial aid, labeled as "strategic ecological support" by the regional government, will help fund the installation of ethane crackers at the site. These crackers are central to the development of Project One, which is projected to cost over €4 billion upon completion.
Earlier this year, Ineos successfully installed the first two of six ethane cracking furnaces at the site. The facility is positioned as a major step forward in chemical manufacturing infrastructure in Europe. In addition to this recent funding, Project One has already received significant backing from both the British and Flemish governments, with contributions of €700 million and €500 million, respectively.
Despite these developments, the project continues to face strong criticism from environmental organizations. These groups challenge Ineos’ claims that Project One will be Europe’s most sustainable ethane cracker. Ineos defends the project by citing its lower carbon intensity, asserting that the new cracker will emit only half the CO2 per tonne of product compared to the next most efficient plant in Europe. Furthermore, the company claims the cracker will be capable of meeting up to 60% of its energy requirements using low-carbon hydrogen when operations begin. Ineos has also stated its readiness to transition to 100% hydrogen use, provided a sufficient supply of cost-effective, climate-friendly hydrogen becomes available in the future.
Project One has had a turbulent regulatory journey. In July 2023, Ineos had its construction permit withdrawn due to concerns over nitrogen emissions potentially impacting nearby protected nature reserves in Flanders and the Netherlands. However, in January 2024, the company successfully appealed the decision and regained its permit after submitting a detailed environmental impact report. This permit was further solidified in July 2024 when the legal basis was shifted from Ineos’ own assessment to the region's Nitrogen Decree.
In response to environmental concerns, Ineos highlights the advanced technology incorporated into the Project One furnaces. Each unit is equipped with ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners and combustion air pre-heaters, which are designed to minimize emissions while maximizing energy efficiency. According to the company, this equipment boasts the smallest carbon footprint among available alternatives.
Despite the controversies, Project One remains a major industrial undertaking with the potential to shape Europe’s petrochemical landscape for decades, while continuing to test the balance between economic progress and environmental protection.
