In an interview with RTL Radio on Wednesday morning, Grevenmacher Mayor Monique Hermes and Mertert-Wasserbillig Mayor Jérôme Laurent discussed the planned expansion of fuel storage at Mertert port by the company Tanklux.
Both mayors acknowledged they are employing a strategy of delay. The two neighbouring municipalities share a common goal: preventing Tanklux from expanding its fuel storage capacity at the port from the current 60,000 m³ to approximately 150,000 m³. By prolonging the proceedings, the mayors hope the ongoing energy transition will eventually reduce the need for the expansion.
The Tanklux project dates back to 2006 and has faced local resistance from the outset, including petitions and protest marches.
The company plans to add 90,000 m³ of storage capacity across seven new tanks. Mayor Hermes emphasised that these structures would be located in close proximity to residential neighbourhoods, a water treatment plant, a campsite, and the town’s Butterfly Garden. She described the massive expansion as "inappropriate" and "simply incompatible with the quality of life of citizens."
To date, there have been no direct discussions between the municipal executive and Tanklux, with Mayor Hermes noting she has not sought such dialogue. She expressed frustration that the local population is, for the second time, being presented with a fait accompli.
Both mayors also raised significant concerns regarding the facility's security. Mayor Laurent pointed out that the Mertert port lacks adequate protection, noting that the site could be accessed simply by climbing a wire fence. He further criticised the site's vulnerability to drones, stating that current security measures fall well below modern standards.
Tanklux has now secured the necessary permits following a public inquiry into the project's potential benefits and drawbacks. With authorisations granted by the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) and the Environment Agency in October, the proposal is further along than ever. Nevertheless, neither local council intends to concede.
Residents have until the end of the month to register their opposition by signing petitions at their local town halls. As of Tuesday, 10 November, 50 signatures had been collected in Wasserbillig and 250 in Grevenmacher. Concurrently, the local councils are preparing an informal appeal, with plans to take the case to the administrative court if it is rejected.
Both mayors acknowledge that these legal proceedings will be lengthy – and that is precisely the strategy. By delaying the process, they hope that a decline in cross-border fuel tourism and a rise in electric vehicle adoption will ultimately render the expansion unnecessary. Mayor Laurent noted that the expansion would require 60 months, or five years, to complete, arguing that this extended timeline further calls the project's future relevance into question.
When asked about former Mayor Léon Gloden’s past assertion that no future mayor of Grevenmacher would approve a building permit for the Tanklux expansion, Mayor Hermes confirmed she would not grant such authorisation at this time. However, she noted that the project has not yet reached the building permit stage.
Should the company ultimately secure all required authorisations, Mayor Hermes acknowledged that the municipality would face significant uncertainty regarding its next steps.
