Frequently
Asked Questions

Project ONE does not produce pellets. The ethylene and by-products produced are gases that, under high pressure in the liquid state, will be transported mainly through pipelines to other industrial sites in the port, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. A portion will be cooled and liquefied to be transported by ship to the final destination.

Flaring removes flammable gases safely. This is important to ensure the safety of a chemical site, in the interest of all employees and local residents.

Flaring is done primarily when starting and stopping the installations, or with major interruptions such as a power failure. Usually, this will be done via ground flares, in order to limit the impact on the surrounding area. INEOS will examine how it can best inform local residents when the large flaring tower must be used.

The project area is located in the port of Antwerp (see Where will Project ONE be built?) and surrounded by other industrial and port-related activities. The nearest residential centers are those of Berendrecht (at 1 km) and Lillo Fort and Zandvliet (at approx. 2 km). The effects on the residential environment are also examined objectively in the environmental impact report, to ensure that they satisfy all legal regulations. Measurements are also being taken regularly during the operation of the installations.

Because the site’s final products will be transferred by pipeline to other sites in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, this transport does not require ships or trucks, which would additionally burden the road network and the air and noise quality.

Local residents who have questions can always contact us.

INEOS considers it very important to limit the impact on the environment and the surrounding area. This is being closely monitored during the design of the installation. Where possible, we’re taking mitigating measures such as installing catalytic units on all chimneys to limit NOx emissions to very low levels, or using hydrogen as fuel resulting in CO₂ emissions which are not even half of the 10% best performing European steam crackers. The impacts are examined objectively in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The environmental impact statement of the entire project will map out the full impact of Project ONE.

Logistics and transport

During Project ONE’s construction, maximum use will be made of ship transport to minimize the burden on road traffic in the neighborhood. A modular design was chosen, whereby large modules are produced off-site and then transferred by ship to the site in Lillo. In this way, we can significantly reduce both the construction time and any local inconvenience.

Ethane, the raw material of the Project ONE installation, is supplied by ship. When the installations are put into operation, the ethylene produced will be transported via pipelines: the safest and most ecological method of transport, which relieves road traffic as much as possible.

Moreover, the ethane that INEOS imports into Antwerp will be transported by a new generation of ships that are themselves powered by ethane gas rather than heavy fuel oil. Using gas as fuel eliminates sulphur emissions and reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional fuels.

Noise – light – odour

We’re striving for the lowest possible noise emissions during the construction of the installation. The use of ground flares will limit visible flare activity. The elevation flares serve primarily as a safety system and will only be used to start up and shut down the installation or in the event of a major malfunction. The high reliability requirements of the production units should minimize the need for flaring. The nuisance of odour is not expected: the planned water purification installation will break down the sulfur compounds from the ethane cracker in a closed installation.

Protecting nature and biodiversity

The vegetation on the industrial estate that was removed to prepare the land for construction will be more than compensated for. In order to protect and relocate biodiversity, a large number of measures have been provided for during the construction phase – the relocation of the hairy wood ant and orchids, the preservation of a natural corridor on the site, etc. We are working on these things with the port and independent organizations that are responsible for the conservation of nature.

INEOS wishes to maintain an open dialogue and sustainable relationship with the neighbouring companies and residents of our sites. Project ONE will contribute to the region’s prosperity, employment and technological innovation of the sector.

With a dedicated point of contact, we offer the possibility to signal concerns about our activities. So if you are concerned about or bothered by our activities, you can easily report it. Every report is carefully examined and dealt with appropriately.

We are also a member of the Chemical Advisory Board, through which we periodically enter into dialogue with the residents of the surrounding residential areas of Stabroek, Berendrecht and Lillo.

Via this website, we also want to keep the neighborhood informed of the further progress of the works, as we strive to minimize any inconvenience.