The network operator Elia completed the BRABO 3 high-voltage network on Monday morning with the installation of the 58th and final pylon, marking a significant milestone.
This new line, expected to be operational in early 2026, will play a crucial role in supplying electricity to the Port of Antwerp and supporting its industry.
The BRABO programme, developed since 2016, represents an investment of €300 million and has unfolded in three phases: BRABO 1 strengthened the link between Doel and Zandvliet, BRABO 2 enabled new cable connections near Liefkenshoek, and BRABO 3, launched in 2023, covers the stretch between Liefkenshoek and Kruibeke.
The final segment required laying underground connections to dismantle and rebuild the existing 18-kilometre overhead line.
“This network reinforcement is essential, as the Port of Antwerp’s electricity demand is expected to double in the next ten years,” Elia highlights. The new pylons will also facilitate direct connections with the port.
The entire BRABO project is expected to be fully completed by 2026, after a decade of work. This achievement is highly anticipated, given that the Port of Antwerp alone will account for half of the expected increase in electricity consumption due to electrification.
The final pylon of BRABO 3 was symbolically inaugurated on Monday by the Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and the Flemish Minister for Public Works, Annick De Ridder.
