Remediation of the Hénâ slag heap in the service of biodiversity
The Hénâ slag heap project demonstrates ENGIE’s firm intention to be a model of industrial, social and environmental responsibility. This project, carried out jointly with the Benelux BU and the Generation Europe BU in Belgium, aims to remediate the former industrial site to create a new area for biodiversity.
Located in Les Awirs in the municipality of Flémalle, the Hénâ site originally consisted of two main valleys cut by the Hénâ and Fagnes streams. The Hénâ slag heap is made up of the ash from burning coal at the Les Awirs power plant, which closed for good on 31 August 2020. ENGIE Electrabel, historic operator of the power plant, decided on complete remediation of the site to form a new area dedicated to biodiversity and recreational activities, in close cooperation with local stakeholders consisting of local authorities, residents’ representatives, and environmental protection associations. More than 2.33 million tonnes of ash covered the two valleys. The ash removal work began in 2016 and by May 2020, more than 500,000 tonnes of ash had already been removed, i.e. 20% of the total. ENGIE Electrabel released a total budget of more than €50m for disposal of the ash, and to upgrade and remediate this former industrial area. The work is planned to go on for 15 years.
Aware of its social and environmental responsibilities, ENGIE Electrabel is paying attention to air quality throughout the duration of the work and the ashes are being fully recycled thanks to an agreement signed with the cement industry.
With this large-scale project, ENGIE Electrabel is demonstrating that the company is keeping to its long-term CSR policy commitments over the full cycle of its activities: development, construction, operation, decommissioning and total remediation.
