Belgium and Norway strike CO2 storage deal during state visit
Belgium and Norway have signed a landmark agreement to capture and store industrial carbon dioxide, a key step in their growing energy partnership.
The deal was signed on Thursday in Stavanger during the state visit of King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. It sets out plans to transport CO2 collected in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to storage sites beneath the North Sea on Norway’s continental shelf.
Under the proposal, a pipeline could be operational by 2031. Belgian gas infrastructure firm Fluxys will manage the onshore network, while Norwegian energy group Equinor will oversee offshore transport and storage.
Norway is widely seen as a pioneer in carbon capture and storage (CCS), with more than three decades of experience. Energy minister Terje Aasland said the partnership would help European industry cut emissions in a “predictable and cost-effective” way.
The agreement reflects broader ties between the two countries. Norway is already a major supplier of gas to Belgium, much of it handled through Zeebrugge. The new project could also expand to include neighbouring countries such as Germany, with Belgium acting as a hub for CO2 collection.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from environmental groups, including Greenpeace and Canopea. They question both the cost and effectiveness of CCS technology and warn that it could prolong reliance on fossil fuels.
Campaigners are calling for greater transparency over public funding and argue that investment should instead focus on electrifying industry. They warn the project risks becoming an expensive distraction that ultimately benefits heavy industry more than households.
The agreement forms part of a wider three-day state visit aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy, defence and climate policy between the two countries.
© BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE