Belgium and Norway have signed a landmark agreement to capture and store industrial carbon dioxide. The deal is a key step in the two countries’ growing energy partnership.
The deal was signed on Thursday in Stavanger during the state visit of King Filip and Queen Mathilde. The agreement sets out plans to transport CO2 collected at the West Flemish port of Zeebrugge to storage sites under the North Sea on Norway’s continental shelf.
Under the plan, a pipeline could be operational by 2031. The Belgian gas infrastructure firm Fluxys will manage the onshore network, while the Norwegian energy group Equinor will oversee offshore transport and storage.
Norway is viewed widely as a pioneer in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and has with more than 3 decades of experience in the field. The Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland told journalists that the partnership would help European industry cut emissions in a “predictable and cost-effective” way.
The agreement is a reflects of broader ties between Belgium and Norway. Norway is already a major supplier of gas to Belgium and much of this handled through Zeebrugge. The new project could also be expanded to include neighbouring countries such as Germany with Belgium acting as a hub for CO2 collection.
Criticism from environmental groups
The plan has drawn criticism from environmental groups. They question both the cost and effectiveness of CCS technology and warn that it could prolong reliance on fossil fuels.
Campaigners are calling for greater transparency over public funding and argue that investment should instead focus on electrifying industry. They warn the project risks becoming an expensive distraction that ultimately benefits heavy industry more than households.