The European Commission has announced the launch of Europe's largest commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Yara's Sluiskill facility in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
The project was launched on September 7. Within its framework, it is planned to capture and liquefy up to 800 thousand tons of CO2 per year generated during the production of ammonia at the Yara plant, which produces ammonia and fertilizers.
The CO2 will then be transported by sea to Norway, where it will be permanently housed at the Northern Lights facility at the bottom of the North Sea.
The Northern Lights project receives financial support through the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program.
The European Commission noted that the cross-border initiative was one of the direct results of the "Green Alliance" between the EU and Norway, signed in 2023. The project, combining private investment and government support, is being implemented in cooperation with the EU, its member States, Norway and industry.
According to the European Commission, about 12 million tons of CO2 will be captured and permanently stored at the facility within 15 years.
The agency also stated that the project will help reduce emissions in energy-intensive industries such as fertilizer and ammonia production, and will also contribute to the development of carbon capture and storage technologies in Europe.
The launch ceremony was attended by European Commissioner for Climate, Clean Growth and Zero Emissions Vopke Hoekstra, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Stere, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Yara International President and CEO Svein Tore Holseter.
Hoekstra, commenting on the project, said that Europe needs practical climate solutions that reduce emissions and at the same time maintain industrial competitiveness. According to him, the Sluiskil project shows what innovations and joint efforts are needed to achieve climate goals and develop cross-border cooperation.