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Maersk moms and dad to invest $1.7 bln in fossil-free plastics plant at Antwerp port

A.P. Moller Holding, majority owner of shipping huge Maersk, plans a preliminary financial investment of 1.5 billion euros ($ 1.7 billion) for the building of a fossilfree plastics production facility in the Belgian port of Antwerp, it said on Monday.

The plan comes as the Danish holding business announced the founding of Vioneo, a venture looking for to transform plastics production.

Vioneo intends to develop its first production complex in Antwerp, Belgium, Europe's biggest integrated chemical cluster. The Antwerp plant will take advantage of the area's expertise in the chemicals industry, strong export centers and access to renewable energy, A.P. Moller Holding said in a news release.

The project represents a 1.5 billion euros initial investment, with a Prospective Decision (FID) in 2025, the investment company said, adding that the success of the endeavor remains depending on stakeholders' support.

The facility, set to be established within Vopak Energy Park Antwerp, will benefit from the support of Dutch tank storage firm Vopak and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Belgian port authority said in a press release.

Vioneo's Antwerp plant is anticipated to begin business operations in 2028, with the creation of around 250 long-term positions once the facility is fully operational, the Danish holding company stated.

(source: Reuters)