News

Smart Delta Resources Flanders has developed into an independent collaborative platform where industrial partners, public authorities, network operators, knowledge institutions and the port work together to accelerate the energy and raw materials transition. SDR Flanders brings partners together around shared transition challenges and creates the groundwork for insights, trust and collaboration to flourish. The implementation of projects always remains the responsibility of the companies involved.

Over 660 journeys a day. That is the number of lorry journeys for incoming and outgoing goods and products – covering some 21,000 km, the majority of which are currently carried out by diesel lorries – that Volvo Car Gent generates every day on and around its site in the port area. To make these operations more sustainable, safer, but above all more efficient, the car manufacturer wants to test whether some of these journeys could be carried out autonomously in the future.

In recent years, Smart Delta Resources Flanders has grown into a key collaborative platform for industrial players in the Scheldt Delta region. In this retrospective, Manfred Van Vlierberghe, former chair, and Carl De Maré, former director, share their insights on why SDR Flanders was needed, how collaboration in the region has changed, and what they believe must absolutely be preserved for the future.

Yesterday, a new public charging hub for electric trucks was inaugurated at the Volvo site in Ghent. The infrastructure was developed by Milence, in collaboration with the Volvo Group. The charging site is an important part of a broader zero-emission mobility hub in North Sea Port, where Air Products is building a hydrogen refuelling station at the same location.

During the Zeeland Day in The Hague, held at Nieuwspoort and organized by the Province of Zeeland/OZO, Smart Delta Resources hosted the themed session "Zeeland Industry and Strategic Autonomy." In the presence of administrators, policymakers, and industry representatives, the focus was on one central question: how can the Netherlands—together with Flanders—strengthen its strategic autonomy through strong industrial clusters?

LBC Tank Terminals (LBC), Associated British Ports (ABP) and North Sea Port have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) terminal and shipping corridor connecting Northwest Europe with the UK. 

On Monday 15 December 2025, construction of the new Baekeland high-voltage substation in Ghent officially commenced. The 380/150 kV substation along the R4-East will be an important link in Belgium's electricity supply, playing a crucial role for the port and surrounding industry.

The new Chair in Dissolution Recycling of Plastic Waste has been officially launched at Ghent University. Funded by the Province of Zeeland and PSLoop, the chair brings together science, industry, and policy to develop innovative solutions for plastic waste and build circular value chains.

The latest issue of Playground Innovation Magazine, published by POM East Flanders and the Province of East Flanders, features a double interview with Carl De Maré (Program Director at Smart Delta Resources Flanders) and Wim Ooms (Plant Manager at Indaver). 

ArcelorMittal Belgium neemt een new step towards low-carbon steel production. An innovative steam turbine will be installed at the Ghent site, converting high-pressure steam from Aquafin into green electricity and low-pressure steam for the steel process. This will enable the company to significantly reduce its fossil fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

For the first time, the Flemish and Walloon governments are joining forces with leading industrial companies to accelerate the roll-out of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Belgium. On 7 November, a joint declaration was signed at the Holcim site in Obourg (Mons), paving the way for investments in CO₂ infrastructure. This positions Belgium as a crucial hub for decarbonisation in North-Western Europe.

We welcome LBC Tank Terminals as a new partner within Smart Delta Resources NL. LBC Tank Terminals is a leading, independent liquid bulk storage provider with terminals worldwide, including in Antwerp and Rotterdam. And soon also in Vlissingen-Oost with a new Green Energy Hub.