Koos van Haasteren, the director of Chemelot, warned in the AD that the Netherlands could face a significant industrial exodus. This “unprecedented industrial departure” threatens the Limburg business park, home to several chemical factories producing plastics, building materials, and intermediates for medicine and electronics.
Van Haasteren believes Dutch industry struggles with global competition, not only from China but also from neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany. High network and electricity costs in the Netherlands pose a challenge, especially as Chemelot seeks to transition from gas and oil.
Concerns have been raised about the infrastructure needed for climate-neutral production, particularly the delayed Delta-Rhine Corridor hydrogen pipeline. This week, the Dutch parliament debates the establishment of a national hydrogen network, but Van Haasteren warns of the risk of losing unique knowledge and production facilities, likening it to the trauma of the mining closure.
Source: NOS