An ambitious project to recycle ageing aircraft at Charleroi airport is set to take off again, after receiving the green light from the Walloon Government for a revised plan.
Grounded during the previous Government of Wallonia, the initiative to establish a specialised facility at Charleroi Airport for aircraft dismantling and recycling is being revitalised.
This project, initially part of a broader federal recovery plan, was conceived to address the increasing number of retired aircraft and the imperative to limit CO2 emissions by modernising airline fleets.
The authorities are keen to expedite its execution, heralding a renewed commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation, Le Soir reported.
Complications
In July 2022, the Walloon Government granted the contract to a consortium of Walloon companies, including Sabena Engineering, Sabena Aerospace Technologies, Sabca, Comet Sambre, and Comet Treatments.
The contract, with a total budget of €39 million, earmarked approximately €10 million for the acquisition of land from Sonaca, which offered direct access to the airport's tarmac at Charleroi.
However, complications emerged when it became necessary to remove the existing car park and photovoltaic panels serving Sonaca's needs, as the region's airport management company, Sowaer, was faced with both financial and operational challenges.
"The Walloon Government has chosen to restart the entire process," Adrien Dolimont, the Walloon minister responsible for airports, told Le Soir,
"Sowaer has been tasked with relaunching the tender process and informing Sabca, which will have access to a plot of land located south of the airport until 30 June 2025."
Due to Sabca's involvement in the original consortium, restarting the project from the beginning was seen as a prudent measure to avoid potential legal disputes or appeals. Meanwhile, the airport, which will lose its lease with Sabca, may see a reduction in the fees it pays for the airport's infrastructure if it gains approval from the European Commission.
The administrative and official procedures, including notifications to Sabca, the airport, and the European Commission, are expected to unfold rapidly.
The Region and the Minister of Airports aim to relaunch the specifications and call for tenders by year-end. Following this, the offers submitted by various candidates will be reviewed, and the project awarded.
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After awarding the contract, the focus will shift to constructing an environmentally friendly hangar and establishing the entire aircraft recycling sector, which will also include essential training for the staff.
