TESSENDERLO CHEMIE ELY-3

The project concerns the replacement of part of the promoter's mercury-electrolysis based production of chlorine by state-of-the-art membrane technologyrepresenting a major step forward towards less environmentally intrusive production methods.

The project is located in an objective 2 area in the western part of the Province of Limburg, a province currently adversely affected by the partial closure of a manufacturing plant of one of the its largest employers. In general, the Province of Limburg has traditionally been confronted with higher unemployment rates and a lower income per capita compared to the rest of the Flemish region.

The project significantly reduces the environmental impact of the site and will sustain the direct employment of some 1450 people in an objective 2 area adversely affected by recent plant closures.

The project, located in an objective 2 area, is environmentally driven and is, therefore, fully consistent with two of the EIB priorities, regional development and environmental improvement.

The promoter has solicited offers from all the known technology suppliers and chosen the best. These procedures, normal for the private sector chemical industry, are in the best interests of the project and entirely satisfactory.