Equinor, Fluxys and OGE join forces to develop cross-border CO₂ infrastructure from Germany to Norway via Belgium

Last Friday, authorities and industries from Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) gathered at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to discuss the strategic importance of cross-border cooperation in maintaining competitiveness of the industry and accelerating decarbonisation efforts.

MoU with Fluxys, Equinor and OGE for trans-European decarbonisation of the industry

On this occasion, Pascal De Buck, CEO and managing director of Fluxys, acting on behalf of Fluxys c-grid, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norwegian energy company Equinor and German transmission system operator OGE, in the presence of Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele and North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst. This MoU marks a significant step toward establishing a cross-border CO₂ transport infrastructure, connecting German industrial emitters to permanent storage sites under the Norwegian North Sea via Belgium.

The agreement outlines a shared vision for a seamless, open-access CO₂ value chain.

From left to right; Pascal De Buck, Matthias Diependaele, Grete Tveit, Hendrik Wüst, Detlef Brüggemeyer.

Round table discussion

During a round table discussion, our CEO insisted on the need to invest in transport infrastructure for molecules to ensure a successful energy transition. There was broad consensus on the critical role of low-carbon hydrogen and CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage). At Fluxys, the cross-border hydrogen and CO₂ pipeline backbone we are developing with our partners is a concrete response to these challenges. This infrastructure should enable industries in Belgium and neighbouring countries like Germany to significantly reduce their emissions, while supporting the EU’s climate neutrality targets.

By aligning efforts, the partners aim to ensure that the entire value chain—from capture to permanent storage—is safe, interoperable, and cost-efficient.

Site visit for the German press

The programme also included a site visit for the German press, offering journalists a firsthand look at the construction of our first CO₂ transport pipeline in the Port of Antwerp. This infrastructure is a tangible milestone in our commitment to enabling decarbonisation of the industry.

About Equinor

Equinor is an international energy company with 21,000 employees worldwide, committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor's goal is to transform natural resources into energy for people and progress for society. Equinor's project portfolio includes oil and gas, renewable energy and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition to be a zero-carbon energy provider by 2050.

Equinor is building on almost 30 years of successful CO₂ storage offshore in Norway. In 2022, the operation for the development of the Smeaheia CO₂ storage facility in the North Sea was awarded to Equinor, a key building block for the development of the Norwegian continental shelf into a leading province for CO₂ storage in Europe.

Equinor is participating in the Northern Lights project, the world's first large-scale and open CO₂ transport and storage project. The company has a growing portfolio in offshore wind farms in Europe and is involved in several hydrogen projects in Europe.

www.equinor.com

About OGE

OGE is one of Europe's leading transmission system operators. With our approximately 12,000 kilometers of pipeline network, we transport gas throughout Germany and, due to our geographical location, we are the link for gas flows in the European single market. Our approximately 1,450 employees stand for security of supply. We make our network available to all market participants on a non-discriminatory, market-oriented and transparent basis. We shape energy supply. Today and in the energy mix of the future.

www.oge.net

About Fluxys c-grid

Fluxys c-grid was established as a subsidiary of Fluxys Belgium in 2023 (Fluxys Belgium 77.5%, Pipelink 10%, Socofe 10% and the Belgian Federal Holding and Investment Company SFPIM 2.5%) with a view to becoming CO₂ network operator on Belgian territory and support industry in its efforts to make the transition to a low-carbon economy.

About Fluxys

Headquartered in Belgium, Fluxys is a fully independent infrastructure group with more than 1,300 employees active in gas transmission & storage and liquefied natural gas terminalling. Through its associated companies across the world, Fluxys operates 28,000 kilometers of pipeline and liquefied natural gas terminals totaling a yearly regasification capacity of 485 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