Fluxys joins forces with stakeholders to decarbonise the industry in Belgium

Oslo, 19 June 2024 – In the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, a joint declaration on low-carbon value chains (“the Oslo Declaration”) undersigned by Fluxys and 13 major industrial groups*, North Sea Port and Port of Antwerp-Bruges, was handed over to the Belgian policy makers, Minister-President of Flanders Jan Jambon, Walloon Vice-President and Minister of Energy Philippe Henry, Federal Minister of Energy Tinne Van Der Straeten, Federal Minister of the North Sea Paul Van Tigchelt and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib. In this declaration, the signatories stress the importance of Carbon Capture, transport, Usage and Storage (“CCUS”) in meeting the decarbonization challenges and urge the policymakers to install the necessary policy instruments at all levels.

CCUS is a technology aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (“CO₂”) emissions by capturing emissions from sources like industrial processes and power plants. The captured CO₂ can then either be stored permanently underground to prevent its release into the atmosphere or re-utilized in various other industrial processes to reduce overall emissions.

Today, the industry in Belgium is facing a major challenge of decarbonizing whilst maintaining its international competitiveness. In addition to the use of renewable energy, CCUS will be of key importance to meet this challenge. CCUS is an indispensable lever for hard-to-abate industry to structurally address their CO₂ emissions at scale in the short term. Furthermore, CCUS will play a crucial role in among others supplying Belgium with secure volumes of competitively priced low-carbon molecules such as “blue” hydrogen which could be used both as feedstock and as fuel for our industry. Power plants that capture their CO₂ emissions could furthermore provide low-carbon power supply even during periods of low wind & sun and peak demand.

Industry's flagship decarbonisation projects drive economic growth and employment, but policy instruments at all levels are essential for their realization in Belgium. Collaboration among all stakeholders is vital to succeed. Therefore, with this Oslo Declaration the industrials stakeholders are underlying the importance of the CCUS technology and ask the policy makers to install targeted policy instruments.

Pascal De Buck, CEO of Fluxys, says: "I am delighted to have signed this Oslo Declaration today with key industrial stakeholders in Belgium. This Declaration perfectly fits within Fluxys' approach, offering CO₂ emitters the possibility of reducing their carbon footprint by transporting their collected CO₂ via 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.”

* List of industrial groups having undersigned the Oslo Declaration: Air Liquide Industries, ArcelorMittal, BASF Antwerpen, Carmeuse, Engie, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Fluxys, Heidelberg Materials, Holcim, Ineos, Lhoist, TotalEnergies

Download the Oslo Declaration

About Fluxys

Headquartered in Belgium, Fluxys is a fully independent infrastructure group with 1,300 employees active in gas transmission & storage and liquefied natural gas terminalling. Through its associated companies across the world, Fluxys operates 28,000 kilometres of pipeline and liquefied natural gas terminals totalling a yearly regasification capacity of 450 TWh. Among Fluxys’ subsidiaries is Euronext listed Fluxys Belgium, owner and operator of the infrastructure for gas transmission & storage and liquefied natural gas terminalling in Belgium.

As a purpose-led company, Fluxys together with its stakeholders contributes to a better society by shaping a bright energy future. Building on the unique assets of its infrastructure and its commercial and technical expertise, Fluxys is committed to transporting hydrogen, biomethane or any other carbon-neutral energy carrier as well as CO₂, accommodating the capture, usage and storage of the latter.

www.fluxys.com