Brabo III High-Voltage Line Officially Opens in Port of Antwerp
The Brabo III high-voltage line has been officially opened in the Port of Antwerp, marking the culmination of a decade-long infrastructure project that strengthens energy supply for one of Europe’s most important industrial hubs. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten attended the ceremony on August 4, 2026, as VRT NWS reported.
A Decade in the Making
Brabo III is the third and final component of a major high-voltage project by Belgian grid operator Elia, connecting the Dutch border area near Zandvliet to Kruibeke. The project began in 2016, when Elia first launched the Brabo initiative to reinforce the electricity grid around the Port of Antwerp and improve cross-border electricity exchange with the Netherlands.
The project name “Brabo” pays homage to the legendary Roman soldier Silvius Brabo from Antwerp mythology, who defeated the giant Druon and threw his severed hand into the river — giving the city its name (Antwerpen, meaning “throwing hands”).
The new 18-kilometer overhead line runs between Kruibeke and Liefkenshoek, operating at 380 kV — more than 1,000 times the voltage found in household sockets. The construction involved erecting 58 new high-voltage masts, including two giant pylons at the Kallosluis that stand 192 meters tall, towering above all other masts and port installations in the area. The total investment in the Brabo project amounts to 300 million euros.
According to NOS, the new infrastructure allows 30 percent more electricity to flow between Belgium and the Netherlands than before. On the Dutch side, grid operator TenneT strengthened the connection from the border to Rilland. The final mast of the line was completed in July 2025, with Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele and Minister De Ridder attending the ceremony, as VRT NWS reported at the time.
Strengthening Europe’s Industrial Heart
The Port of Antwerp is Belgium’s largest electricity consumer and hosts the second-largest petrochemical cluster in the world, including industrial giants such as BASF and Ineos. Flemish Minister of Public Works Annick De Ridder noted that the new grid increases the current capacity by 20 percent, calling it vital for the port’s operations.
The project addresses a pressing need. As Business AM reported, the demand for electricity in the Antwerp port is expected to double within ten years, driven by the electrification of industrial processes and the rollout of shore power for ships. Valerie Daloze, project manager at Elia, explained the urgency: “It is important to be able to follow the needs of industry around electrification. Industry is moving away from fossil fuels and switching to electricity. The demand for electricity will consequently rise enormously, and that’s why we want to strengthen the electricity grid.”
Energy Security in Uncertain Times
Both leaders framed the project within the broader context of European energy security. De Wever called the infrastructure “of exceptional importance for energy security and autonomy,” adding that “cross-border infrastructure must be built, so this is incredibly important for both countries.” He described the pylons as “a new artery for our industry.”
Jetten echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that energy independence has become a security issue. “Our two 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.” As Transport Online reported, Jetten also called for deeper cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium on power production, including hydrogen, nuclear, and wind energy.
Bernard Gustin, CEO of Elia Group, highlighted the resilience benefits: “The stronger Belgium and the Netherlands are connected, the less dependent we are on external shocks in the energy market.”
The Interconnection Advantage
Daloze compared the interconnection to a highway system: “You can compare it to a highway between Belgium and the Netherlands with several exits in the port.” The integrated European network allows countries to share electricity across borders, stabilizing prices and improving supply security.
“Thanks to interconnections you can count on your neighbors,” Daloze explained. “If the wind in Belgium blows less than in Germany, for example, you can use a strong European network to let energy flow from Germany to Belgium.” This integrated market enables electricity to flow from areas with surplus production to regions with peak demand, helping to control prices and buffer against fluctuations.
Industry Concerns and the Road Ahead
Port companies had expressed concerns about electricity supply well before the opening. In February 2026, VRT NWS reported that companies in the Antwerp port were worried about grid capacity. Stephan Vanfraechem, director of the Alfaport-Voka employers’ association, described the situation: “You have to see it as a highway that is currently saturated and needs to be updated and expanded. I fear we are already behind. We have made the choice to transform and use more electricity, but then we urgently need to reinforce that electricity grid.”
A first part of the Brabo III line was already put into service in January 2026, as Flows reported, providing an early boost to the port’s power supply.
A Blueprint for Cross-Border Cooperation
At the opening ceremony, Elia and TenneT also signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen the existing electricity connection between Kinrooi in Belgian Limburg and Maasbracht in the Netherlands. The reinforced connection is expected to be completed by 2035, as VRT NWS reported.
Jetten emphasized that this milestone should not be the end of the road. “As far as I’m concerned, the milestone we’re reaching today is not an endpoint,” he said. “This project shows what we can achieve when we join forces. Let’s keep doing that.”
The Brabo III opening represents more than the completion of a major infrastructure project — it is a tangible demonstration of European cooperation in an era of geopolitical uncertainty. As the port of Antwerp transitions toward its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the reinforced grid provides the foundation for industrial electrification and renewable energy integration. The project serves as a blueprint for the kind of cross-border energy infrastructure that Europe will increasingly need as it pursues energy independence and decarbonization in the decades ahead.