Belgium and UK sign agreement on carbon capture and storage

Belgium and the UK have signed an agreement on the transport and permanent storage of CO2. Described as an important step towards establishing a market for carbon capture, utilisation and storage, the memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday at the UK Embassy in Brussels.

The agreement between the two countries aims to overcome a major regulatory obstacle by permitting, under the London Protocol on the Prevention of Marine Pollution, the import and export of CO2 for the purposes of permanent geological storage.

It is intended to promote cross-border projects and provide greater regulatory clarity for Belgian and UK industries. Projects could involve storing CO2 emitted in Belgium or other countries in the seabed of the North Sea. The CO2 can be transported via existing or future pipelines or by ship.

The deal was signed by the UK minister of state for Energy Security, Alan Whitehead, and Belgium’s federal minister for the North Sea, Annelies Verlinden. The Flemish and Walloon ministers for Energy are also involved.

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.

belganewsagency.eu

This is “a crucial step towards enabling the transport of CO2 to storage sites in the UK from other countries”, Whitehead said. “The strong relationship between the UK and Belgium will help to develop a market for carbon capture, utilisation and storage and offer growth opportunities on both sides of the Channel.”

It is the first agreement of its kind signed by the UK with another country under the London Protocol. Belgium has agreements with Norway, the Netherlands and Denmark, said Verlinden, who called for the establishment of a European framework to facilitate cooperation with the UK. Since leaving the EU, the UK is no longer part of the European emissions trading scheme.

Despite the high cost, CO2 capture and storage are seen as crucial solutions for decarbonising certain industrial sectors that are particularly difficult, if not impossible, to decarbonise completely, such as the chemical, steel and cement industries.

^{North Sea minister Annelies Verlinden and British minister of state for Energy Security Alan Whitehead sign a memorandum of understanding on CO2 transport between Belgium and the UK, 16 June 2026, in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO JULIEN BALTUS}

Related news

Flemish farmers’ union demands legal framework for circular use of manure

The Flemish farmers' union Boerenbond is calling on the Flemish government to swiftly create a legal framework to replace expensive artificial...

belganewsagency.eu

EU plans bigger carbon permit buffer to steady energy prices

The European Commission has proposed changes to its carbon market rules to help keep energy prices more stable and support heavy industry.

belganewsagency.eu