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🇧🇪 Belgium /Energy & Infrastructure

Grobbendonk mayor wants more consultation on new underground hydrogen pipeline

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Grobbendonk Mayor Marianne Verhaert urges active involvement of local authorities in planning an underground hydrogen pipeline between Antwerp and Germany's Ruhr area.
  • The project was previously abandoned due to strong public and municipal protest, which led to the expropriation of nearly 100 homes.
  • Verhaert emphasizes the need for consensus-building and community engagement, recalling a past plan that avoided expropriations and expressing hope for a similar approach this time.

Grobbendonk Mayor Marianne Verhaert is pushing for local governments to be actively involved in the planning of a new underground hydrogen pipeline connecting Antwerp to Germany's Ruhr region. She recalls the project's previous abandonment three years ago after significant public and municipal outcry, which resulted in the expropriation of nearly 100 homes across several municipalities.

We received that file very cold at the time.

— Marianne VerhaertThe mayor of Grobbendonk recalls the previous handling of the hydrogen pipeline project.

"We received that file very cold at the time," Verhaert stated, describing the past approach as decided from an "ivory tower" and "pushed down our throats." In Grobbendonk alone, 20 homes, a quarter of all properties slated for expropriation, were located within its borders, highlighting the substantial impact the pipeline would have had.

What happened then was decided from an ivory tower. That was really pushed down our throats. Grobbendonk and other municipalities received that file very cold at the time.

— Marianne VerhaertThe mayor describes the past approach to the hydrogen pipeline project.

Now, Flemish Minister of Environment Jo Brouns has revived the plans. While no route has been determined yet, Flanders intends to consult with all stakeholders through an appointed task force. Verhaert insists on creating public support, stating that the previous handling of the dossier was "below all standards." She believes that such projects must be tackled collaboratively with residents and local authorities to build consensus.

20 houses, or a quarter of all homes that had to be expropriated, were on our territory. The impact would have been enormous.

— Marianne VerhaertThe mayor highlights the significant impact the pipeline would have had on Grobbendonk.

Verhaert is not inherently opposed to the hydrogen pipeline, noting a past alternative plan that did not require expropriations, which her municipality had no issue with. She understands the project's necessity but stresses the importance of considering public support this time. Although she has not yet received an invitation for consultations, she expects one soon and is prepared to pursue it herself if necessary.

Such a dossier must be tackled together with residents and local authorities. Only then will there be support.

— Marianne VerhaertThe mayor emphasizes the need for community engagement and consensus-building for the hydrogen pipeline project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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