CCS Dead Horse?28 Mar 2025 20:02
CCS is risky and costs money!
BASF tests CCS in Antwerp together with Air Liquide, BASF has been testing the use of the technology in the port of Antwerp since 2021. The project is being funded by the European Union. The plant was originally due to go into operation this year. So far, however, not even a final investment decision has been made. According to a spokeswoman for the port, the current weak situation in the industry is causing difficulties due to high prices, low CO₂ prices and technical difficulties. BASF also speaks of problems and challenges: "The scale on which we want to use the technology is new," says a local spokesperson. "A liquefaction plant as large as the one we want to build has never existed before. And ships that can transport this amount of captured CO2 do not yet exist in this size either." In addition, there would be cost explosions across the entire value chain.
The example shows: Betting on the authorisation of CCS in Germany is risky - and not just for BASF.