Delta Schelde CO₂nnection

In this way, the Delta Schelde CO₂nnection contributes both to reducing CO₂ emissions and to supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of industry in Belgium and the southwest Netherlands.

CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is a naturally occurring gas that is essential for life on Earth. However, excessive concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere contribute to global warming and climate change by trapping heat. For this reason, the Netherlands and the European Union aim to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Industry is already taking steps to reduce its emissions, but this transition takes time. That is why Gasunie is developing a network for the transport and storage of CO₂, also known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). In this process, CO₂ is captured at industrial facilities before it reaches the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then transported to depleted gas fields deep beneath the North Sea seabed, where it is safely stored. This helps reduce emissions while enabling industry to remain competitive and continue its transition towards more sustainable operations.

Companies in Belgium and the southwest Netherlands can capture their CO₂ emissions and deliver them into the Delta Schelde CO₂nnection system. Near Moerdijk, the Delta Schelde CO₂nnection will connect to the Delta Rhine Corridor. This pipeline will transport the CO₂ onwards to the Maasvlakte industrial area near Rotterdam. From there, the CO₂ will be transported to depleted gas fields deep beneath the North Sea seabed for permanent storage, for example via the Aramis CO₂ infrastructure.

The Delta Schelde CO₂nnection is part of a growing CO₂ transport and storage network designed to safely handle large volumes of captured CO₂. For the transport of CO₂ from Belgium, Gasunie is working closely with Fluxys. Together, the parties are developing a cross-border connection that supports industrial decarbonisation. The project also takes future connections to other industrial clusters into account, allowing the network to expand in line with future demand. In this way, the project contributes to Dutch and European climate ambitions while supporting a strong and sustainable industrial base in Northwest Europe.

To transport CO₂ safely and efficiently, the Delta Schelde CO₂nnection will consist of several key components:

• a connection to the Fluxys CO₂ pipeline network in Belgium
• a CO₂ pipeline transporting CO₂ in its gaseous phase
• a compressor station that increases the pressure of the CO₂ and converts it from gaseous to dense phase
• a CO₂ pipeline transporting CO₂ in dense phase
• valves and safety systems along the pipeline route
• a connection to the Delta Rhine Corridor CO₂ pipeline

The Delta Schelde CO₂nnection will be approximately 40 kilometres long and will run between the Belgian border near Antwerp and Moerdijk. The pipeline will be installed underground within a designated utility corridor that already accommodates other cables and pipelines (the LSNed and PEH corridors). A compressor station will also be required above ground. The location for this facility has not yet been determined and is currently under investigation.

The permitting procedure for the Delta Schelde CO₂nnection is expected to start in the winter of 2026. During this process, the exact routing of the pipeline and the locations of associated infrastructure will be further developed. Various studies will be carried out to support these decisions, while input and local knowledge will also be taken into account.

Subject to obtaining all required permits and approvals, construction is expected to start in 2031.

For local residents, municipalities and public authorities

Do you have questions about the project or would you like to learn more about what it could mean for your area? Please contact Lisette Le Clercq.

For companies interested in CO₂capture and transportation

The Delta Schelde CO₂nnection is intended for companies in Belgium and the southwest Netherlands that wish to capture CO₂ and have it transported for safe, permanent storage beneath the North Sea.

Are you interested in delivering captured CO₂ into the network? Please contact Johannes Andriessen.

For more information about the overall carbon capture and storage process, please click here.