Heidelberg Materials in Belgium joins CO₂ transmission infrastructure project launched by Fluxys Belgium

With a view to achieving its carbon emission reduction goals, Heidelberg Materials' cement business in Belgium (currently known as CBR) aims to implement the Anthemis project at its Antoing cement plant and is pleased to partner with Fluxys Belgium to create a CO₂ value chain. The partners recently signed a declaration of interest underscoring the cement manufacturer's desire to have access to and use of the CO₂ transmission backbone project as proposed by the Belgian gas transmission infrastructure operator.

Heidelberg Materials' cement business in Belgium is pursuing its CO₂ emission reduction goals. Accordingly, the company intends to equip its Antoing site with an innovative hybrid carbon capture unit, a project they have dubbed Anthemis. Once it is up and running, the unit will reduce Antoing's CO₂ emissions by more than 97%. In other words, some 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ will be captured annually. As a result, Antoing will become the first cement plant in mainland Western Europe to supply carbon-free cement.

The agreement reached between Heidelberg Materials and Fluxys Belgium aims to accelerate the energy transition of the industrial sector. This important milestone makes a real contribution towards achieving the ambitious climate objectives that Belgium and Europe have set themselves.

Christophe Streicher, CEO of Heidelberg Materials Benelux: "Sustainability is a top priority for Heidelberg Materials. With regard to reducing CO₂ emissions, we want to be the industry leader on the path towards carbon neutrality. In order to achieve this goal, we are proud to join forces with a trusted partner like Fluxys Belgium. Access to the transmission infrastructure that Fluxys Belgium intends to develop from Tournai to Zeebrugge and Ghent will enable our Antoing cement plant to connect to a large-scale CO₂ transmission network and to carbon storage sites in the North Sea. With Anthemis, our Antoing production site will become the catalyst for a complete CO₂ value chain. At the same time, it should be noted that our group is also a partner in the EU2NSEA project of common interest (PCI), a major cross-border project for the capture and storage of CO₂."

Pascal De Buck, CEO of Fluxys Belgium: "We are delighted to have signed this declaration of interest with Heidelberg Materials. Heidelberg Materials' commitment is important for Fluxys as it enables us to actively support the development of a global CO₂ transport infrastructure. The Anthemis facility and its connection to the transmission infrastructure are an integral part of the Fluxys approach, which offers CO₂ emitters the possibility of transporting their collected CO₂ through pipelines to various export points. Together we are contributing to a more sustainable society through decarbonisation solutions for industry, which are essential for meeting climate change targets and ensuring the long-term viability of the economy."