BRUSSELS – The Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) of the international Antarctica treaty has given the go ahead for the construction of the Princess Elisabeth base at the South Pole. A “delighted” Minister for Scientific Policy and Energy Marc Verwilghen announced this on Tuesday.

The members of the CEP gave their definitive approval for the construction of the Belgian research base at their meeting in New Delhi. The station will allow Belgium and other countries to carry out numerous research projects, including studies into climate change.

The base, which will get 98 percent of its power from renewable sources, will be assembled in advance in Brussels this summer. Then it will be shipped to Antarctica, where it will be set up at the base of the Sör-Rondane Mountains in Eastern Antarctica during the summer of 2007-2008.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news