Holcim Romania’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Câmpulung has been selected for funding under the EU Innovation Fund, marking a significant milestone for Eastern Europe’s first large-scale onshore CCS initiative.
The project, known as Carbon Hub CPT01, will capture CO2 from Holcim’s cement and lime operations in Argeș County and transport it to a dedicated onshore storage site for permanent sequestration.
While financial details were not disclosed, Holcim said the award underscores the maturity of its technologies and engineering capabilities. The project is being developed by an industrial consortium that includes Belgian mining company Carmeuse, which will contribute expertise in establishing an integrated CCS value chain.
Near-Zero Cement Production Targeted for 2032
Once operational, Carbon Hub CPT01 is expected to enable Holcim Romania to produce around 2 million tons of near-zero cement per year starting in 2032, aligning with the company’s broader NextGen Growth 2030 strategy.
Holcim Group’s regional head for Central and Eastern Europe, Simon Kronenberg, said the Innovation Fund award validates the project team’s technical readiness and supports the company’s plan to scale low-carbon building materials across Europe.
The selection comes as part of the European Commission’s €2.9 billion ($3.34 billion) Innovation Fund awards announced this week, supporting 61 net-zero technology projects.
Relevant: EU Innovation Fund Awards Highlight Demand For CO2 Storage And Transport
The Commission said the Romanian CCS initiative will play a foundational role in establishing the country’s first full-chain CCS infrastructure, including a new CO2 transport pipeline and a retrofitted onshore geological storage site.
According to the Commission, the project will capture CO2 from two neighboring facilities, a cement clinker plant and a lime plant, before transporting the CO2 via pipeline to the storage site.
The infrastructure is expected to support future integration into the planned trans-European CO2 transport network.
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