BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The first of 13 Belgian soldiers that are to help with the construction of Belgium's new Antarctic research facility left for the South Pole on Tuesday.

The new Belgian polar research station, which can accommodate 20 people at a time, is the result of efforts by the International Polar Organization, which is set up by Belgian polar explorer Alain Hubert.

The Belgian troops' first job will be to re-open the camp that has been constructed at the planned site for the new research station, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported.

They will then proceed with the construction of the Princess Elisabeth research facility in January and February next year.

All of the 13 soldiers going to Antarctica are volunteers. Five of them have had previous experience of working in the frozen continent.

The Belgian research station is eco-friendly and will run entirely on renewable energy sources. Three quarters of the water used at the base ...

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