CEF Energy: Antwerp@C CO2 Export Hub receives 144.6 million of EU funding for CO2 capture infrastructure

On 26 June, CINEA hosted a ceremony to celebrate the symbolic handover of the grant agreement with the Antwerp@C CO2 Export Hub project, that will be co-funded under CEF Energy with EUR 144,6 million.

Hosted by CINEA’s Acting Director Paloma Aba Garrote, the signatory event was attended by the Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon, the Head of the Belgian Representation of the European Commission Stefaan De Rynck and the project beneficiaries.

The Antwerp@C CO2 Export Hub project is carried out by Air Liquide, Fluxys and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Its goal is to develop a world-scale open-access modular infrastructure for the transport, liquefaction, and export of CO₂ captured by industries in the Antwerp port area.

The project is expected to finish in June 2027, contributing as one of the captures initiatives to the PCI (Project of Common Interest) N-LiTES, which focuses on developing the infrastructure to transport and permanently store CO₂ in the Norwegian continental shelf. 

In addition, Antwerp@C CO2 Export Hub has the potential to reduce the CO₂ emissions in the port of Antwerp by more than 50% by 2030 while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of one of Europe’s main economic centres.

Paloma Aba Garrote, acting Director of CINEA said: “CEF Energy has awarded 144.6 million euros to the Antwerp@C CO2 Hub project. This is the largest grant awarded so far to a CO₂ network project under this programme. That shows that the role of CO₂ networks, together with other energy infrastructure such as electricity interconnectors, storage, hydrogen, will remain key to deliver on the decarbonisation objectives of the EU.”

Besides this project, other PCIs in Flanders have been supported under CEF Energy since 2014, receiving around EUR 15 million of EU funding.

In addition, the project Kairos@C, also located in the Port of Antwerp and supported by the Innovation Fund with EUR 356.8 million, should be mentioned because is complementary to Antwerp@C as together are creating the first and one of the largest and unique cross-border carbon capture and storage value chain to capture, liquefy, ship and permanently store CO₂.