Norway and Belgium have signed a bilateral agreement aimed at facilitating an infrastructure for the transport of CO2 by pipeline from Belgium to the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The agreement reflects both countries’ long-term commitment to carbon capture and storage as part of Europe’s climate efforts.
The agreement was signed in Stavanger at the Petroleum Museum by representatives from Norway and Belgium.
'This agreement strengthens the foundation for a European CO2 value chain. By coordinating our efforts, the agreement marks an important milestone in the two countries’ long-standing energy cooperation and provides predictability for future CCS developments. Today we have taken a concrete step toward supporting industrial decarbonisation in Europe,' says Terje Aasland, Norwegian Minister of Energy.
Belgian industry needs access to large-scale storage solutions to reach national and EU climate targets. Norway, for its part, has paved the way for substantial offshore storage capacity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf based on commercial terms through its permitting policy.
'Norway has more than 30 years of experience with safe offshore CO2 storage. Together with Belgium, we are now laying the groundwork for infrastructure that can help European industry reduce emissions in a cost-effective and predictable manner,' Terje Aasland says.
According to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot: 'This agreement strengthens the foundations of Belgium’s and Europe’s industrial future. Cooperation with Norway on CO2 transport supports industrial decarbonisation and reflects our shared commitment to climate ambition and future resilience'.
Norway is the largest supplier of gas to the EU, providing roughly one-third of the Union’s imports. The energy systems of Norway and Belgium are already closely connected through the two gas export pipelines from Norway to Zeebrugge on the Belgian coast. Zeebrugge plays an important role as a landing point for further distribution of Norwegian gas to Europe. The agreement signed today is based on the existing agreements governing the operation of these two pipelines and the way in which the two countries have distributed jurisdiction between themselves with respect to these gas pipelines. The agreement builds on this partnership and reflects both countries’ aim to accelerate the transition to low-carbon solutions.
Potential European CO2 Pipeline System
Annelies Verlinden, Belgium’s Minister of the North Sea said: 'Belgian industry is at the forefront of the transition to sustainability, including in sectors with emissions that are difficult to reduce. Our strong cooperation with Norway is key to making carbon capture and storage a success in Belgium and across Europe. The North Sea serves as a backbone for our green industrial future, connecting our industry to effective and reliable climate solutions'.
The background for the agreement is an initiative led by Equinor and Fluxys to develop an infrastructure for transport of CO2 from Belgium to a storage location on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In addition to the pipeline for the cross-border transportation of CO2, the initiative includes plans for a land-based terminal in Belgium to receive CO2 from several industrial sources in Europe.
If the pipeline is built, it will represent a significant contribution to European emission reductions and demonstrate how cross-border infrastructure can support industrial transformation.
Source: Government.no
