Why Zuhal Demir is refusing the environmental permit for a gas-fired power station in Dilsen-Stokkem

17 September 2021
Zuhal Demir

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise that there are better ideas than a big polluting gas-fired power station within walking distance of top European nature.” Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir is refusing the environmental permit for the construction of a gas-fired power station in Dilsen-Stokkem. The gas-fired power station would emit approximately 100,000 kg of ammonia and approximately 340,000 kg of nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually, just 189 metres from top protected European nature.

The application by initiator Dils-Energie nv, affiliated with German energy company RWE, has been causing quite a stir for some time now. Minister Demir has decided that the project does not comply with the subdivision regulations and is more extensive than permitted. In addition, the applicant provides too little green buffering on its own plots. The effect of taking cooling water from the canal on a number of water-rich nature reserves in the vicinity is also criticised in view of the drought problem. The potential safety risks near the gas-fired power station were also barely investigated.

100,000 kg of ammonia and 340,000 kg of nitrogen emitted into the air annually

The gas-fired power station would emit approximately 100,000 kg of ammonia and approximately 340,000 kg of NOx annually, and that at only 189 meters from the Special Area of Conservation of the Bergerven nature reserve and the Hoge Kempen National Park. That amount of ammonia is equivalent to about 20 farm stables. This would obviously result in additional nitrogen precipitation in nature. On the other hand, to compensate for the CO2 emissions of the gas-fired power station, 60,000 hectares of forest would have to be planted in the most optimistic scenario. That is an area many times larger than the National Park.

No polluting gas-fired power station within walking distance of protected nature

Zuhal Demir explains the refusal of the permit: “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realise that there are better ideas than a big polluting gas-fired power station within walking distance of top protected European nature. The emission of nitrogen is comparable to 20 factory farms. Of course, this has consequences for our environment and the air we all breathe. However, there is a great deal more going on in this case. The project also fails to comply with several basic rules of our spatial planning. The only right choice in this case was therefore to refuse the environmental permit.”

Everyone is equal before the law in Flanders

The decision on the gas-fired power station in Dilsen-Stokkem does not predetermine decisions on applications for gas-fired power stations in Tessenderlo, Wondelgem and Vilvoorde. “As has always been said, each case will be assessed based on its own merits. In that respect, everyone is equal before the law in Flanders,” the minister emphasises.

With rising gas and CO2 prices in Europe and scarcity in energy production, Minister Demir reiterates that she expects the federal government to take sufficient and swift initiatives to ensure the affordability of the energy bill and security of supply.

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