Aquafin Sludge Mono-Treatment Plant

Belgium

Recovering Energy from Wastewater of 5 Million Inhabitants in Belgium

From the beginning of 2027 onwards, a new, state-of-the-art plant of water treatment company Aquafin (a publicly owned wastewater treatment company) will recover energy from the wastewater of 4 million inhabitants, for reuse on site. Aquafin entrusted the design, build, financing, maintenance, and operation of the plant to the BESIX-Indaver consortium. FOSTER, the 'Special Purpose Vehicle' (SPV) set up by Indaver and BESIX for this purpose, has fully completed its financial close in 2024 and started construction in October 2024, which will take just over two years.

Indaver and BESIX, in collaboration with Aquafin, are making a large investment of 200 million euros in an energy recovery plant located in the port of Ghent. The initiative supports climate neutrality and the circular economy by extracting valuable raw materials like phosphorus, recoverable from the residue of the plant.

The plant will employ advanced sludge processing techniques to significantly reduce its environmental impact by 28,000 tonnes CO2-eq, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Managed by the BESIX-Indaver consortium, branded as FOSTER (acronym for ‘phosphor and energy recovery’ - in Dutch, while also meaning ‘taking care’ - in English), the plant’s operation and maintenance are secured for 20 years under the DBFMO (design-build-finance-maintenance-operation) contract. This long-term commitment ensures efficient and sustainable operation, leveraging the consortium's expertise in public-private partnerships for infrastructure and environmental projects.

Strategically located in the port of Ghent, the plant's site was selected for its minimal CO2 footprint and optimal energy utilization. The project will provide clean energy to local industries, including a nearby steel producer, further supporting regional sustainability goals. The collaboration between Indaver, BESIX, and Aquafin exemplifies the potential of wastewater treatment to contribute to sustainable development and resource recovery, setting a new standard for energy recovery and environmental management.