2023-10-08 15:02:00
The project has not yet seen the light of day and many residents hope that this will never be the case. However, the Cryo Advise company hopes more than ever to build a biomethanization plant in the Hautrage area. A project that has already received the support of Wallonie Entreprendre (WE), the economic and financial tool of Wallonia.
Indeed, just a week ago, the latter and the fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) signed a letter of intent relating to the project. The first also announced its desire to acquire a minority stake, the amount of which was not disclosed. For citizens, the announcement had the effect of a bomb.
And for good reason: many of them today are wondering how a structure like Wallonie Entreprendre can support such a project when, to date, no permit has been issued. Worse, they believe that the Walloon Region is judge and party in a matter which already promises to be controversial. It will be recalled that in the majority of cases when it comes to such a project, Walloon ministers are invited to comment on the files.
Could we imagine that Wallonie Entreprendre would provide its support to Cryo Advise so that Wallonia, via its ministers, would then turn around? Citizens do not believe it and remain more convinced than ever that the dice are loaded and decisions taken in advance. This is denied by the Minister of the Economy, Willy Borsus (MR).
“That WE is a stakeholder in a file in no way influences a decision of Wallonia”
“No commitment has been made at this stage regarding the permit,” he insists. “Whether WE is a stakeholder or not does not change the case in any way, which moreover is investigated first in first instance by the technical and delegated officials, and possibly in appeal by Céline Tellier and myself, on the basis of “a report from the administration.”
And added: “Whether WE, an investor or a private party is involved in a file has no influence on Wallonia’s decision.” When contacted, Wallonie Entreprendre did not respond to our request for an interview. On the part of the population, it is sometimes difficult to believe that citizen mobilization will be enough to block a project of this magnitude, but we still try not to give up.
As a reminder, CryoAdvise intends to process 900,000 tonnes of waste per year, for an expected production of 20,000 tonnes of biogas. 80% of the slurry used will be imported from Flanders. The factory, which would be located 220 meters from the nearest residents, would run continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nuisances that are fiercely opposed by many citizens, some 550 letters having been sent as part of the public inquiry.
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