Posted on May 30, 2022
M. Dimitri Descamps, Commercial Manager Envisan: « The project on the Awirs site represented a true logistic and environmental challenge for us. Thanks to our methodology based on waterway logistics and on the use of our processing centre located in the Port of Monsin in Liège, we did take on this challenge successfully. The Envisan physicochemical washing process, the first unit of this type in Wallonia, offers a decontamination solution for polluted soil and the transformation of these into secondary construction materials on the Walloon, Luxembourg and French markets. As a result, Envisan are a major link in the circular economy of the Autonomous Port of Liège. »
Raf Anné, ENGIE Project Director for the Flémalle site: « This project illustrates ENGIE’s capacity to tackle its industrial liabilities responsibly, while limiting to a minimum the impacts for local residents and the environment. That is the reason why the soil from the former coal yard of the Awirs power plant were transported by waterway. This made it possible to take 120 lorries off the road for each waterway transport and to reduce CO2 emissions by using an eco-friendly means of transport. This responsible management approach has been implemented by ENGIE since 2016 for the removal of ash from the Hénâ slag heap at the Awirs, from where they are transported via a covered conveyor belt to the Meuse River. From there, it is transported by barge to the cement plants. Just like ash, soil has a second lease of life. »
M. Emile-Louis Bertrand, Director-General of the Autonomous Port of Liège: « The Autonomous Port of Liège, first Belgian inland port and third European inland port, does indeed intend to play a key role in the circular economy. Because of its logistic facilities, its central role in the local economy and its interaction with industry, a port such as Liège has so many assets that turn it into a major player in the circular economy. As crossroads for the flow of raw materials, products and waste that circulate in our economy, our concession-holders possess a huge expertise in the logistics, storage, management and processing of waste. Therefore, we support Envisan who chose the circular economy path and who, with this project and its activities, aims at reducing its carbon footprint and its environmental impact, noise and the number of lorries on the road. Finally, it is important to think of using waterways and prioritise this mode of transport for soil and rubble from similar construction sites … »
