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Mattheeuws from Veurne wants to focus even more on green energy. The transport company is hoping for government support for the expansion of its more ecological fleet.
\nHet Nieuwsblad<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Mattheeuws is expanding its LNG terminal in Veurne, is building a new station in Wallonia and is already sending 70 gas-powered trucks out on the road every day. More than half of them drove their first kilometers in recent months. Mattheeuws wants to expand that number in 2017 with another 25 to a hundred trucks. \u201cThat is, if we get the necessary support. Additional investments in cleaner energy depend on possible subsidies \u201d, manager Eric Mattheeuws immediately adds to the explanation of his future plans.<\/p>\n
But after the visit of Minister of Energy Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) to the company in the industrial zone of Veurne, that opportunity may well be there. The minister promised to the leadership of Mattheeuws that he might include the heavy transport industry in his policy that already provides money for cars and vans on electricity.<\/p>\n
The innovation policy and the accompanying support of the Flemish government have so far been the driving forces for the heavy investments. \u201cThe minister also praised our project, but there is a big but. I certainly want to be ecological, but of course I also have to think economically and think about my business, “says Mattheeuw.” My own LNG station, which already cost 1.5 million euros, will become profitable if at least a hundred trucks come to refuel every day. For the time being we have seventy of them in circulation ourselves. We can bear the costs, but 25 to 50 extra trucks would be ideal. And that with the necessary subsidies. Otherwise it will take four to six years before I see any return and that is too long for a test case. \u201d<\/p>\n
Thanks to gas driving, they drive much greener, but it remains a fossil fuel. \u201cIt is certain that it is the cleanest fossil fuel,\u201d says Mattheeuws. \u201cWe emit twenty to thirty percent less CO2, five percent less nitrogen dioxide and one hundred percent less sulfur oxide. In the future, a mix of different types of energy will probably be used. Gas is the most viable alternative. Investing in this today is an ecological change to an economically promising future. As long as there is no economic loss, there are only ecological winners . \u201d<\/p>\n
During Tommelein’s visit, the expansion of the LNG station in Veurne was also announced, as well as the construction of a completely new station in Houdeng in Wallonia by the end of 2017.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the expansion, some technical jobs have already been added. “I certainly recommend young technical graduates to learn more about this.”<\/p>\n