EU approves additional support for CO₂ capture project in the Port of Antwerp

The European Commission has approved €260 million in Flemish state aid for the Kairos@C project, an initiative by BASF Antwerp and Air Liquide aimed at capturing CO₂ emissions from industrial installations in the Port of Antwerp and permanently storing them beneath the North Sea. The project is designed to capture emissions from processes such as hydrogen, ammonia and ethylene oxide production and could avoid around 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 15 years. The support consists of investment aid and variable operating support linked to the actual amount of CO₂ captured, complementing earlier funding from the EU Innovation Fund worth €357 million.  
BASF and Air Liquide welcomed the approval of the additional support but still don’t not see all conditions fulfilled to take a final investment decision as the deadline approaches: if Kairos@C does not reach a final investment decision by 31 March, it risks losing the European subsidy. The companies cite a combination of regulatory and economic uncertainties as ongoing challenges and say discussions with the European Commission on the project timeline are continuing, effectively seeking a delay. Several outstanding issues remain, including the appointment of an operator for the local CO₂ network. 

Read more on the BASF website and in this article.