Belgium and Netherlands inaugurate Brabo III power line
The new Brabo III high-voltage line was officially inaugurated on Tuesday in the port of Antwerp, with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten attending the ceremony. The infrastructure project, developed by Belgian grid operator Elia, is designed to strengthen Belgium’s energy grid and improve electricity exchange with the Netherlands.
A decade-long project reaches completion
The Brabo III line is the third and final phase of a major infrastructure investment that began in 2016. Elia has invested more than 300 million euros in the Brabo project, which spans from the Dutch border to Kruibeke. The new line involves 58 new masts over an 18-kilometer stretch between Liefkenshoek and Kruibeke, including two 132-meter-high pylons near the Kallosluis that rank among the tallest in the Benelux.
The project increases the current capacity of the grid by 20 percent, according to VRT NWS. The Antwerp port is Belgium’s largest electricity consumer and hosts the second-largest petrochemical cluster in the world.
Strengthening cross-border energy ties
The new infrastructure serves a dual purpose: reinforcing the electricity grid around the port of Antwerp and improving the exchange of power with the Netherlands. As NOS reported, the connection allows the Netherlands to export more electricity to Belgium on days with abundant wind and solar generation, while Belgium can import additional power when needed.
“This is of exceptional importance for energy security and autonomy,” De Wever said at the ceremony. “Cross-border infrastructure must be built, so this is extremely important for both countries.” He called the high-voltage line “a new artery for our industry.”
Jetten echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the strategic dimension of the project. “Our both countries and all of Europe must take much more care of their own energy,” he said. “That has rapidly become a security issue in recent years. So Brabo III as a project may not have started that way, but in today’s world it is an important element.”
New collaboration announced
At the inauguration, Elia and Dutch grid operator TenneT also signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen the electricity connection between Kinrooi (Belgium) and Maasbracht (Netherlands). The companies plan to replace the existing wires with ones capable of carrying more electricity, with final commissioning expected in 2035, as VRT NWS reported.
Meeting the demands of electrification
The investment comes as the port of Antwerp faces a dramatic surge in electricity demand. The port region’s electricity needs are expected to double within the next decade, driven by the electrification of industrial processes and the transition away from fossil fuels. The port alone will account for 50 percent of the expected increase in electricity consumption due to electrification, according to Solar Magazine.
Bernard Gustin, CEO of Elia Group, stressed the importance of preparing for future needs. “How stronger Belgium and the Netherlands are connected, the less dependent we are on external shocks in the energy market,” he said. “In the coming years, new investments remain necessary. Think of data centers: that’s why we must prepare today for tomorrow.”
The urgency of the project was highlighted earlier this year when businesses in the Antwerp port expressed concerns about electricity supply. Stephan Vanfraechem, director of employer organization Alfaport-Voka, described the grid as “a saturated highway” that needed urgent expansion, as VRT NWS reported in February.
A blueprint for European cooperation
The Brabo III project exemplifies the broader European effort to integrate national electricity grids. By strengthening interconnections, countries can support each other during supply fluctuations, more efficiently use renewable energy across borders, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels from outside the EU.
Valerie Daloze, project manager at Elia, compared the interconnection to “a highway between Belgium and the Netherlands with some exits in the port.” She explained that a strong European network enables electricity to flow from areas with abundant and cheap production to regions with the highest demand, helping to keep prices under control.
Following the inauguration, De Wever and Jetten held a bilateral meeting, as announced by the Dutch government. Jetten emphasized the need for continued cooperation, stating that the milestone “is not an end point. This project shows what we can achieve when we join forces. Let’s especially continue doing that.”
With the Kinrooi-Maasbracht project expected to be commissioned by 2035 and further investments needed to support the energy transition, the Brabo III inauguration marks both a significant achievement and a stepping stone for deeper cross-border energy cooperation in Northwest Europe.