Read the final statement issued by the Belgian NCP concluding the specific instance - 24 November 2014 | français

In September 2013, the Belgian NCP received a request for review by the NGO Greenpeace alleging that Jan De Nul NV, a multinational enterprise, had breached the environment provisions of the Guidelines in the Russian Arctic area with its work related to the Sabetta harbour project. 

The NCP undertook an initial assessment of the specific instance and concluded that it merited further consideration. In November 2013, the NCP began confidential mediation proceedings with the parties.

Although the NCP had underlined that the process was to remain confidential, Greenpeace organised the publishing of an article in a Belgian magazine regarding the project. This breach of confidentiality hampered the NCP's mediation process, although it did continue to hold meetings with the parties.

Throughout these series of meetings, the company explained its position and demonstrated that it had undertaken sufficient environmental due diligence in relation to the project in question. The Belgian Export Credit Agency, who had also been contacted by Greenpeace, had commissioned a separate environmental assessment which judged that the company had complied with all concerns regarding the protection of the environment. 

In concluding the specific instance, the Belgian NCP recommends to the Belgian companies working on this project, that, they communicate in a transparent way with the public about potential hazards to the environment of their projects, while taking into account the confidentiality of certain commercial information and intellectual property rights.

In the wake of this specific instance, the NCP will contact the Belgian companies involved in the continuation of the Sabetta project implementation.

Further information about the specific instance process is available in the NCP's final statement issued upon conclusion of the specific instance.