More electrical power for fast-growing potato processor Agristo Wielsbeke

In recent weeks, power network company Fluvius has carried out important construction works near the West Flemish producer of potato products Agristo in Wielsbeke. A total of 35 kilometers of new electricity cable was laid over a route of 2.7 kilometres.

From the coming Christmas holidays, Agristo's connection capacity will be almost doubled to support the company's substantial expansion.

Sustainable site expands

Agristo already started a third production line at its main site in Wielsbeke this spring. Next year it will expand with a new potato flake line and a fourth production line will be added in the coming years.

This requires a lot of extra power on top of the many efforts that Agristo is already making today regarding sustainable locally generated energy. This is done, for example, through a solid installation of solar panels and steam recovery from a neighboring biomass plant.
 Stefaan De Jonghe Account Manager Technical Commercial Management at Fluvius:
 

"Agristo's connection capacity will increase from 13.5 to 24.5 megavolt-amps (MVA) at the end of this year. We laid 4 new electricity cables for this purpose. They depart directly from the Oostrozebeke transformer station and follow a route of 2.7 kilometers, including a section along the Expresweg."

"Three directional drillings, one of which under a bridgehead and an intersection near the Fabiolalaan, provide additional challenges. During this construction, we took the opportunity to lay a fifth cable over part of the route."

"This is part of the renewal of the networks. There was only minimal traffic disruption during the execution of the works."

Full steam ahead into the new year

In the week between Christmas and New Year, Agristo does not run at full capacity. That is the only time slot at which the new connection can be put into service definitively.

This will enable Agristo to start up at the beginning of January with the expanded electrical capacity. This intervention does not require any additional road works.