Several hundred Code Rouge activists who were blocking the TotalEnergies oil site in Feluy (Hainaut) since Saturday morning disbanded on Sunday afternoon.
The civil disobedience group was protesting "record profits, ecological destruction and social decay caused by the French company" in the midst of a climate crisis. The demonstration came to an end on Sunday afternoon and activists declared it a "great success."
"We were able to make our voices heard loud and clear this weekend," said Code Rouge's Eveline van Engelen. The movement will continue actions into the future "until the fossil industry finally stops polluting and exploiting," she added.
The movement organised a blockade of TotalEnergies sites in Feluy (Hainaut) and Wandre (Liège) on Saturday and also disrupted the fossil fuel giant's activities at the Port of Antwerp.
Demonstrators remained on the site’s road and railway tracks into the evening and protestors continued "playing games, singing, and resting" despite a heavy police presence.
"The situation is quite calm," the federal police stated on Saturday evening.
Credit: Belga / Tijs Vanderstappen
This contrasts with the demonstration at the port of Antwerp, where TotalEnergies has another site.
Code Rouge says 270 participants including journalists and lawyers have been detained. Police made the arrests after dismantling the blockade on Saturday afternoon.
This article was updated at 12:55.
