The Port of Antwerp in Belgium is aiming to further reduce CO2 emissions through possible carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) infrastructure, Europe’s second-largest seaport said Tuesday.
Eight leading companies in the port area — Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, Ineos, ExxonMobil, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp and Total — have signed a collaboration agreement to move toward the possible development of CCUS.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the use of CO2 as a raw material for various industrial applications (carbon capture and utilization, or CCU) are seen as important avenues in the transition to a lower emissions port.
The consortium will carry out a joint study into the economic and technical feasibility of such facilities, with the analysis expected to take around a year to complete.
While Port of Antwerp did not give costs for the project, it said “financial support from Flanders, the Belgian federal government and the EU is essential for further successful implementation of the project. One important part of this is preparation of subsidy applications.”
If the proposals turn out to be technically and economically feasible, development of such facilities could lead to reductions in CO2 emissions in the run-up to 2030.
The feasibility study will also investigate possibilities for CO2 storage. Belgium does not have suitable geological formations for storing CO2 underground, and so international collaboration would be needed.
— Annalisa Villa
