News item | 22-06-2023 | 12:00
The Netherlands and Belgium signed an agreement today in Antwerp during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to cooperate more in the field of transport and storage of CO2. Both countries want to make the industry more sustainable through cross-border transport of CO2 between ports and industry, such as in Antwerp, Ghent, Rotterdam and Zeeland. Both countries are also committed to future storage of Belgian and Dutch CO2 in depleted gas and oil fields under the North Sea.
The agreement was signed by Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate), Deputy Prime Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Belgium) and Ministers Zuhal Demir (Flanders) and Philippe Henry (Wallonia).
Minister Micky Adriaansens (EZK): “The transport and storage of CO2 is not an end in itself. It is one of the ways to make our industry more sustainable and to reduce CO2 to reduce. This is important for the climate objectives and the economy. Industrial clusters in Antwerp and Rotterdam, for example, have great economic value and are highly regarded. By focusing on clean industry, we can remain a global leader. I like to go there together with Belgium. This is how the cross-border market for transport and storage of CO2 up and running, we will remain attractive to companies and they will make the transition from gray to green here.”
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
The advanced technological process, also known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), is all about reducing the CO2industry emissions. It starts with capturing the CO2 even at industrial installations. This is followed by safe transport to suitable storage locations such as empty gas and oil fields under the North Sea. There the CO2 then stored permanently, so that it no longer ends up in the air and does not cause emissions.
The government is currently working on policy for the market regulation of the CCS infrastructure. In principle, the construction and operation of infrastructure is the responsibility of companies and market parties, but public and semi-public parties such as ports and network operators also contribute. Dutch CCS projects are eligible for support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) via the so-called SDE++ scheme for stimulating sustainable energy production and climate transition.