In Belgium, TotalEnergies singled out for its shortcomings in terms of reducing emissions

TotalEnergies has just suffered a snub in Belgium. The province of Antwerp decided, on April 14, to grant the French company only a temporary permit, for a maximum period of two years and accompanied by strict conditions for reducing emissions, while TotalEnergies claimed, for its part, a license renewal “for eternity”. The company has an oil refinery in Antwerp, the third largest in Europe, and a petrochemical complex equipped with steam crackers to transform oil or gas derivatives into raw materials for the manufacture of plastic.

These activities generate significant CO emissions₂, but also nitrogen dioxide and sulfuric acid, which are dangerous to health. The environmental impact study associated with the permit application shows, for example, that eight of the nine “furnaces” of the TotalEnergies steam cracker emit more nitrogen dioxide than the authorized European limits. The company is now committed to “significantly reduce [ses] emissions by 2025”as written in World the group’s spokesperson. But these commitments do not inspire confidence in the regional agencies.

“Lack of concrete commitments”

On March 23, the environment department of the Flemish region had already issued an opinion “unfavourable” upon granting the permit, The world has procured. We can read there that the plan of Total “lack of concrete commitments” to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions. The lack of correct emissions measurements by Total is pointed out by this Flemish agency, which recalls that the company was required to do so from 2018.

The grievances are quite similar in the field of CO₂. Total emissions in Antwerp reach peaks, with 4 million tonnes of CO₂ released in 2019. The company, through its spokesperson, guarantees that the intention is to lower them by electrifying its facilities or using CO capture and storage technology₂. But several Antwerp sources attest that the list of investments necessary to achieve this objective was absent in the license renewal application.

The 58% reduction in emissions by 2034 is now included in the provincial authorization, as is the – very long – list of actions expected from TotalEnergies to reduce nitrogen dioxide or acid emissions. sulfuric. The company will have to prove itself. “More broadly, the issue is that of the future of refineries. Why give an unlimited permit when refineries will have to close? »asks Tycho Van Hauwaert, of the NGO consortium Bond beter Leefmilieu.