Fluxys launches Ruhbens together with OGE

Today, Fluxys and its partner OGE have officially presented Ruhbens, a cross-border CO2 project route connecting Germany to the North Sea via Belgium.

Ruhbens is exploring the creation of a strategic and central CO2 artery connecting the Ruhr industrial region and beyond to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. From there, CO2 can be transported to permanent offshore storage sites in the North Sea. The launch marks an important milestone in the development of large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) solutions for industrial emitters in North-Western Europe.

Ruhbens is being co-developed in a spirit of close cooperation between:

• Fluxys, through its Fluxys-c-grid subsidiary, for the infrastructure in Belgium, and

• OGE, our partner for the infrastructure in Germany.

Ruhbens reflects the shared ambition of our two companies to offer industrial players a concrete, reliable, cross‑border CO2 solution to support their decarbonisation objectives at scale.

Why this name?

“Ruhbens” brings together:

• The Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heart;

• Belgium, the essential gateway to the North Sea;

• The North Sea, ideal for large‑scale CO₂ storage thanks to its geology and multiple storage initiatives.

Ruhbens in a nutshell?

• Up to 20 Mt CO₂/year of potential transport capacity for hard‑to‑abate industries

• Open-access 500 km cross‑border network through Germany and Belgium

• Operational in the early 2030s, subject to confirmed market interest

• Access to multiple North Sea storage sites

• A real solution for steel, cement, lime & other heavy industries looking for decarbonisation solutions

Fun fact: did you know that the famous painter Rubens, our inspiration for the project name, was actually born in Germany and later made his home in Antwerp — kind of an artistic bridge between the two countries. Hence our tagline: “The art of decarbonising Europe” 😉

The Ruhbens launch marks an important step forward towards the acceleration of Europe’s decarbonisation.

#Let’s shape together a bright energy future!

Take a look at www.ruhbens.com