Rotterdam port, environment group agree pollution target
The port of Rotterdam has agreed to target a 10 per cent reduction in polluting emissions in a deal ending a drawn- out legal battle with environmentalist group Friends of the Earth over the port's expansion.
The Rotterdam port, Europe's largest harbour, started work on the 3 billion euro (S$5.8 billion) expansion plan last September despite ongoing legal procedures due to environmental concerns.
But the port said on Monday that it had agreed with Friends of the Earth to start a joint study this year to determine how the port can reduce emissions of fine particles, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide from existing and future operations.
The joint ambition is to reduce emissions by 10 per cent by 2020 and, in exchange, all legal procedures from Friends of the Earth against the port's expansion will be abandoned, the two groups said in a statement.
'The construction of the Maasvlakte 2 will continue unabated and at the same time we will ensure the harbour will become more sustainable,' Hans Smits, port chief executive said in a statement. He was referring to a new port extension project, Maasvlakte 2.
Friends of the Earth director Frank Kohler said the deal would benefit both the environment and Rotterdam residents.
Rotterdam - a major transit point for oil, coal, grains and manufactured goods - hopes its extension programme will provide a long-term solution to handling expanding international trade.
The extension is set to increase the port's size by about 20 per cent, or 1,000 hectares of land that can be leased. The first ship is due to dock in the new harbour in 2013.
The Rotterdam port, Europe's largest harbour, started work on the 3 billion euro (S$5.8 billion) expansion plan last September despite ongoing legal procedures due to environmental concerns.
But the port said on Monday that it had agreed with Friends of the Earth to start a joint study this year to determine how the port can reduce emissions of fine particles, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide from existing and future operations.
The joint ambition is to reduce emissions by 10 per cent by 2020 and, in exchange, all legal procedures from Friends of the Earth against the port's expansion will be abandoned, the two groups said in a statement.
'The construction of the Maasvlakte 2 will continue unabated and at the same time we will ensure the harbour will become more sustainable,' Hans Smits, port chief executive said in a statement. He was referring to a new port extension project, Maasvlakte 2.
Friends of the Earth director Frank Kohler said the deal would benefit both the environment and Rotterdam residents.
Rotterdam - a major transit point for oil, coal, grains and manufactured goods - hopes its extension programme will provide a long-term solution to handling expanding international trade.
The extension is set to increase the port's size by about 20 per cent, or 1,000 hectares of land that can be leased. The first ship is due to dock in the new harbour in 2013.