Project ONE has got off to a solid start this year as there is a lot on the agenda in 2025! The Antwerp construction site is becoming the centre of gravity, now that the work in the yards abroad where the plant modules were built, is almost completed. Some of these modules have already been shipped to Antwerp, but we expect another 15 or so shipments this year. Project ONE is now really going “vertical” and, with the integration of the modules, the yard is increasingly taking on the contours of a chemical plant.

A highlight earlier this month was the arrival of the first giant cracker furnaces after a long overseas trip from Thailand. The “heart” of the cracking plant is now 'home' and has since been successfully integrated at the yard.

No fewer than 2,000 people are working on the Lillo site today, and that number is set to rise considerably in the second half of the year, at the peak of the works. The project is therefore well on track with €3 billion already spent.

Not only is the project growing in stone and steel, but the number of permanent staff is also steadily increasing. 125 permanent staff have already been recruited today and the search for technical profiles for the future site is ongoing.

We look forward to the rest of the year and thank everyone involved in our project for their commitment and enthusiasm!

John McNally, CEO Project ONE 

With a weight of no less than 6,000 tonnes, a width of more than 32 metres and a height of 60 metres (as high as the Antwerp museum MAS), the first cracking furnaces made a striking passage through the port of Antwerp in mid-January.  A symbolic moment for Project ONE, as the furnaces , where the conversion of ethane into ethylene takes place, form the heart of the cracker. 

Together with the press and several other guests, we welcomed this special transport from another boat on the Scheldt. Watch our report here.

The transport and installation of the module itself at the construction site was equally a technical feat, involving a lot of “choreography” and taking a total of 8.5 hours. Watch the accelerated video of the “operation” here.

Tom Peers, HSE manager at Project ONE, acted quickly and decisively to save a colleague's life. His actions highlight the importance of first aid skills. Read more about his commendable efforts and how INEOS's Safety Star program recognizes his dedication and that of all colleagues who continuously strive for safety at the Project ONE site.

While he was still the formateur of the Flemish government, Matthias Diependaele visited our site in the Port of Antwerp. During his Voka summer internship, he had a site-tour and learned more about the sustainable ethane cracker we are building. 

We were very honoured to welcome him and see him at work as a crane operator. 

The vast scale of the Project ONE site requires more space than is available on-site. Thanks to a local partner, Gosselin Logistics, INEOS Project ONE now has access to an external marshalling yard just 6.5 km away. This waterfront location enables efficient transport to the construction site. Learn how this collaboration addresses the logistical challenges of Project ONE.

At Project ONE, we used a unique method to install the roof with a weight of 900 tonnes of the ethane tank: by air-lifting it! Discover how this impressive operation was carried out and watch the video of this engineering feat.

Dutch Project ONE colleagues share their experiences in PZC newspaper

The Dutch newspaper PZC visited the Project ONE site to learn about the project and meet the Zeelanders working for INEOS. Henk de Bruijne, project manager: "A €4 billion megaproject built from the ground up is almost unheard of in Europe."  
Read the full article (available only in Dutch) and discover their stories.

Impressive safety milestone

At our Project ONE site in Antwerp-Lillo we have reached 3 million man hours without lost time injury. Achievement of this significant milestone demonstrates the hard work, skills and dedication to this project of the Project ONE team and all partners on site. To celebrate this achievement, we treated everyone on site to delicious fries and a snack.

Project ONE in the Port of Antwerp is in full swing, and we need many new employees! Bring your technical expertise to this unique project. Watch our recruitment video and explore the opportunities to become part of our team.