Code Red takes a narrow view of ENGIE’s activities and ignores the company’s numerous projects and investments related to the transition to carbon neutrality.

Our responsibility to ensure the safety of our employees and facilities

ENGIE recognizes and respects freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate. However, the company has a responsibility to protect the safety of its staff and third parties working at its sites, and must deny unauthorized access to its private property and critical infrastructure.

A previous Code Red action at the Flémalle site in the summer of 2023 was far from peaceful. It led to dangerous situations for both employees and demonstrators, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and the environment.

This is why ENGIE, in consultation with the competent authorities, took additional security measures at and around its energy production sites in Belgium, which are essential for the country’s energy supply. We ask the activists to demonstrate peacefully, not to cause any damage, and not to enter or obstruct our sites— especially for their own safety and that of our colleagues.

ENGIE's vision for the energy transition

ENGIE is firmly committed to the transition to a carbon-neutral energy system, and has therefore made it the core of its business strategy. A successful transition means reducing CO₂ emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest, while keeping energy costs manageable for both citizens and businesses, and developing a resilient, reliable energy system.

To achieve this goal in a timely manner, we must make use of all available solutions and technologies without dogma or prejudice.

All studies confirm that the rollout of renewable energy still needs to be significantly accelerated if we want to achieve the climate goals and reduce the cost of the transition. Additionally, greater efforts regarding energy efficiency and savings are needed.

Technologies such as battery storage, pumped-storage plants and gas-fired power plants will provide the flexible and controllable power needed to supplement when less renewable energy is available. Furthermore, low-carbon molecules such as green or blue hydrogen will be key to decarbonizing sectors that cannot fully switch to electricity for their operations and processes.

The energy transition requires significant investment

The ENGIE Group is committed to making its global operations carbon neutral by 2045. To make the energy transition a reality, we have outlined a roadmap with concrete interim targets and significant investments. For Belgium, these include 4 billion euros in investments in renewable energy, flexible capacity and the reduction of CO₂ emissions from our customers.

The role of gas-fired power plants in the energy transition

ENGIE is also investing in the construction of a new gas and steam power plant in Belgium, at its Flémalle site. This investment follows the previous federal government’s decision to have new gas-fired power plants built in Belgium to support the country’s energy supply at times when there is insufficient renewable energy to cover the total energy demand. Such times will become rarer and rarer as renewable energy capacity increases.

Flémalle's new gas and steam power plant receives government support through a CRM or capacity reimbursement mechanism. This is a system that compensates market players for making available energy production capacity that supports the stability of the high-voltage grid and energy supply. A CRM ensures that sufficient production capacity is available at the lowest possible cost, because support is awarded through an auction in which only the most cost-efficient candidates are selected.

The new gas and steam plant at Flémalle is efficient and uses the best technologies available worldwide for the lowest possible CO₂ emissions and the highest possible energy efficiency. Furthermore, the plant is designed to eventually run on renewable gases, once they are available in sufficiently large volumes.