Fluxys c-grid Antwerp is advancing plans to develop a dedicated CO2 transport network in the Port of Antwerp, aiming to connect industrial emitters with offshore storage sites in the North Sea. The initiative reflects a broader push across Europe to build the infrastructure needed to move captured carbon dioxide from source to storage.
The project focuses on designing and operating an open-access pipeline system that allows multiple industrial players to transport CO2 through shared infrastructure. By linking the port to both domestic and cross-border networks, the system is intended to integrate into a wider European carbon management framework.
Transport remains a critical, and often underdeveloped, component of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) systems. Without reliable ways to move captured CO2, industrial facilities face limitations in deploying capture technologies at scale.
Connecting emitters to storage at scale
The need is particularly acute in sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate. Industries such as cement and lime production generate carbon dioxide as part of their core chemical processes, making capture technologies one of the few viable decarbonisation pathways.
Similarly, high-temperature industrial activities, where electrification is either impractical or not yet commercially viable, are expected to rely on CO2 capture and transport to reduce emissions.
The Antwerp network is being developed with a phased approach, aligning infrastructure buildout with demand from industrial users and the availability of storage capacity. The model also incorporates open-access principles, allowing companies to connect based on their individual timelines and volumes.
Relevant: Air Liquide And Holcim To Decarbonize Cement With Carbon Capture In Belgium
Beyond local connectivity, the project aims to link with neighbouring countries and export routes to offshore sequestration sites, reinforcing the Port of Antwerp’s role as a regional hub for carbon management.
Backed by the infrastructure expertise of the broader Fluxys Group, the initiative is designed to leverage existing experience in pipeline development and operation. At the same time, its expansion will depend on regulatory alignment and financial mechanisms to support early-stage investment in what remains a developing market.
As European climate policy increasingly emphasizes industrial decarbonization, projects like this highlight the growing importance of CO2 transport networks, not just as enabling infrastructure, but as a central pillar of the emerging carbon management economy.
Read more: Svitzer Unveils Coastal CO2 Shipping Model For Emerging CCS Networks