Dutch court rejects Maasvlakte 2

The project, to be funded by the government and the municipality of Rotterdam, aims to expand the port’s existing 10,000ha by 10% via land reclamation by 2010. The court, which tests laws and approves government projects, said it could not give the green light to the expansion plan because of environmental worries, a port spokesman said.

Dutch news agency ANP said an appeal could not be made against the court’s decision and that the government would rework the project to address the environmental issues. “We still haven’t decided how to proceed. One of the options is to revamp the project, ” the spokesman said. “The court’s decision doesn’t mean that there won’t be the Maasvlakte 2. The expansion plan had been challenged by 13 organisations, including fishing and environmental groups.

Maasvlakte 2 is at the centre of the port’s expansion programme, which aims to provide a long-term solution to congestion caused mainly by China’s surging trade.