EU Approves €260M in Aid for Air Liquide-BASF Carbon Capture Project in Antwerp
The European Commission has approved €260 million (approximately $281 million) in state aid from the Flemish government to support the Kairos@C carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, a joint venture between chemical company BASF and industrial gases group Air Liquide in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. The approval, announced on March 11, 2026, is a significant step towards decarbonizing industrial processes and achieving the EU’s climate neutrality goals.
Project Details and Objectives
Kairos@C aims to capture greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial plants in Antwerp that produce hydrogen, ammonia, and ethylene oxide. The captured CO₂ will be transported via a local pipeline within the port to a liquefaction and export terminal, and subsequently shipped for permanent underground storage in the North Sea.
The project will initially focus on capturing concentrated CO₂ emissions generated as byproducts in chemical processes, where cost-effective low-carbon alternatives are currently unavailable. A key component of Kairos@C is the construction of an energy-efficient CO₂ liquefaction plant, designed to have a capacity approximately ten times larger than the most substantial CO₂ liquefaction unit currently in operation. The development of specialized liquid CO₂ vessels is also included.
Contribution to Climate Goals
By avoiding approximately 14.2 million tons of CO₂ emissions over the first ten years of operation, Kairos@C will significantly contribute to the EU’s objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050. The project is also aligned with Belgium’s climate targets and the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal, aiming to decarbonize the industrial sector through an integrated, cross-border CCS value chain.
Antwerp@C Consortium
The Kairos@C project is connected to the Antwerp@C consortium, which aims to halve CO₂ emissions in the Port of Antwerp by 2030. Air Liquide and BASF are founding members of Antwerp@C, and the project will utilize shared CO₂ transport and export infrastructure, including a first-of-its-kind CO₂ liquefaction and export terminal.
Funding and Timeline
The €260 million in state aid approved by the European Commission complements a grant of over €365 million awarded to Kairos@C under the Innovation Fund call of 2020. The start-up of operations is expected in 2027.
Key Takeaways
- The EU has approved €260 million in state aid for the Kairos@C carbon capture project in Antwerp.
- The project is a joint venture between BASF and Air Liquide.
- Kairos@C aims to capture CO₂ from hydrogen, ammonia, and ethylene oxide production.
- The project will contribute significantly to the EU’s climate neutrality goals.
- Operations are expected to begin in 2027.