Air Liquide and Holcim have signed an agreement to develop a carbon capture solution for Holcim’s near-zero cement plant in Obourg, Belgium, marking a new phase in their collaboration on industrial decarbonisation.
Under the agreement, Air Liquide will supply oxygen for Holcim’s oxyfuel-ready clinker production line and deploy its proprietary Cryocap™ OXY technology to capture CO₂ emissions at high efficiency. The captured carbon dioxide is intended to be transported via pipeline to a CO₂ export hub, such as Antwerp@C, before being shipped for permanent offshore storage in the North Sea.
The project aims to capture up to 1.1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year and forms part of Holcim’s GO4ZERO investment programme, which targets carbon neutrality in Belgium by the end of the decade. The initiative is also expected to contribute to the European Union’s 2050 net zero objective.
The agreement represents a key milestone for transforming the Obourg facility into a large-scale near-zero cement plant. However, the Final Investment Decision remains subject to the development of additional partnerships across the value chain and public sector support, including regulatory clarity and risk-sharing mechanisms for infrastructure.
Émilie Mouren-Renouard, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee responsible for operations in Europe, said: “The transition toward a low-carbon industry is a long-term endeavor that requires steady collaboration and public support in its initial phase. For many years, Air Liquide has been committed to decarbonize industrial sectors such as the cement industry, with the development of its visionary and advanced carbon capture technologies. Alongside our partner Holcim, we share the same ambition and this new milestone agreement for the pioneering GO4ZERO project is a powerful signal for Belgium’s industrial decarbonisation and energy transition.”
