Pelt (Eurotoday) – Nyrstar’s zinc plant in Pelt got a new Limburg permit until 2027, tightening chloride, sulfate, thallium, and selenium limits. Criticism came from North Brabant, Waterschap De Dommel, ZLTO, and Inge Moors.
As VRT News reported, the zinc plant of Nyrstar in Pelt has received a new environmental permit from the Province of Limburg, allowing it to operate until the end of 2027. The permit includes stricter limits for the discharge of chloride, sulfate, thallium, and selenium, which flow into the Dommel River via the Eindergatloop stream. The daily discharge limits for chloride and sulfate have been reduced almost by half, and the amounts of thallium and selenium that can be released have also been lowered.
The environmental permit committee and the Flemish Environment Agency, and the Agency for Nature and Forests have all provided a favourable recommendation by unanimous vote. Officials in Limburg stated the amended permit will yield a positive impact on water quality while allowing the plant, a significant local employer, to continue operating.
What impact will Nyrstar Pelt’s 2027 permit have on water quality?
The decision has been criticised by North Brabant, the Dutch province, which warned that new limits would not meet the European Water Framework Directive targets for 2027. The French-structured province of North Brabant and the municipality of Pelt made negative recommendations. They cited that the new permit would not enable them to achieve the established or planned water quality targets.
Dutch water authorities, including Waterschap De Dommel, and organisations representing farmers, such as ZLTO, also raised objections. They said continued discharges of chemicals threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and local agriculture.
“on condition that the stricter standards are strictly adhered to and that further research is conducted into additional mitigating measures,”
They stated.
Provincial Executive Inge Moors (CD&V) called the permit “a good step” but warned that if Nyrstar has to apply again, “much bigger steps are necessary.” The province also said the plant’s discharges will be closely monitored during the permit period to make sure the new rules are followed.
The province plans further research to see what more can be done to reduce pollution and protect water quality and biodiversity in and around the Dommel. Measurements in recent years show some improvement because of source reduction and better purification techniques, but European standards are still not fully met. Nyrstar did not comment on the permit or plans.
The Nyrstar zinc plant in Pelt has a long history of environmental concerns. The factory has been operating since the early 2000s and has long discharged chloride, sulfate, thallium, and selenium into the Dommel River, which flows into the Netherlands.
In the 2010s, Dutch authorities warned that the river’s water quality did not meet European standards, and environmental groups raised alarms about risks to wildlife and agriculture. Nyrstar introduced source reduction measures and improved purification techniques, which lowered pollution but did not fully solve the problem. Previous permits were controversial, with Belgian and Dutch authorities disagreeing on the acceptable limits.
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