Around 400 people have occupied the Engie site in Flémalle, Liège Province, the Code Rouge environmental movement said on Wednesday evening.
The activists entered the site, to be used for the construction of Engie’s future gas-fired power station, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm in several successive waves. They intend to occupy it to prevent any further work from being carried out.
“We are going to blockade this site at least until this weekend, because we find it unacceptable to build any more fossil-gas power stations, given the ecological and social impact that we now know about them,” Code Rouge spokesman Léo said.
The movement is demanding that energy be treated as a common good. After taking possession of the site, the activists chained themselves to the machinery, hung banners from the cranes and pitched their tents in preparation for spending the night on site.
“In view of the political immobility on social and climate justice, this type of action has become one of the only ways to defend ourselves in the face of the systematic denial of our right to live with dignity on a healthy planet,” said Katherina, another spokesperson.
Many police officers were present on Wednesday evening to monitor the area around the site of the future power station. Drones, federal police vans and a helicopter were notably visible there.
