"Jim Ratcliffe's vast petrochemical plant in Antwerp faces new legal challenge", 22 February 2024

The creation of the biggest petrochemical plant in Europe in 30 years faces a new legal challenge by a group of NGOs arguing that the true impact of the development on people, nature and the climate has not been considered.

Client Earth lodged papers... in court which aim to halt the building of Project One... which is being built in Antwerp by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company Ineos.

The building of Ratcliffe’s €3bn plant was halted last summer after a landmark court victory by the NGOs. They successfully argued that Ineos failed to tell the authorities the full extent of the project’s predicted impact on the surrounding environment. The court of the council of permit disputes ruled the crucial omissions mean the Flemish authorities should not have granted the project a permit of approval.

The Flemish authorities issued a new environmental permit to operate last month. ...

An Ineos spokesperson said: “Project One will produce the raw material essential for medical products, insulation, transport and packaging. It will have the lowest carbon footprint compared to any plant of its kind Europe. And by applying state-of-the-art technology, it has a clear road map to carbon neutrality within 10 years of start-up. Europe needs to be permitted to renew its manufacturing technology and we will strongly defend this project in the court.”