An important step for the creation of the first CO2 transport network in our country was made with the positive evaluation by the Commission of REPowerEU , for the revised National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0. And this is because REPowerEU provides for the financing of 75 million euros from DESFA, with the aim of creating a pipeline to transport carbon dioxide from the facilities of the cement factories of TITAN and HERACLES (Holcim), in Kamari in Boeotia and in Milaki in Evia, respectively .
The pipeline is to complement the CO2 capture projects that the two companies have in the works, with the aim of "greening" their facilities and thus producing cement with a low carbon footprint. Thus, the project is intended to be the first "link" in the infrastructure chain, with which the emissions will end up in the CO2 storage facility in Prinos ("Prinos CCS"), which is being developed by Energean.
More specifically, with the pipeline the CO2 will end up in a carbon dioxide liquefaction terminal, which DESFA will develop in a coastal area in Attica. From the terminal (the construction of which is not financed through REPowerEU ), the now liquefied CO2 will be transported by barge to the "Prinos CCS".
The plans for "green" cement
It is recalled that for the capture and storage of CO2 from its facilities in Viotia, TITAN has designed the "IFESTOS" project , which has been selected by the Commission for financing, through the Innovation Fund. It is the largest project of its kind in Europe, leading to an annual avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1.9 million tonnes of CO2. As a result, Kamari will become one of the largest carbon capture facilities in Europe.
According to the company, the demand for low-carbon building materials is constantly increasing, as they contribute to the creation of a sustainable and climate-friendly residential environment. TITAN will produce approximately 3 million tons of zero-carbon cement per year to serve the growing needs for green construction in the Athens metropolitan area and beyond.
For its part, HERACLES (Holcim) is promoting a similar investment of more than 284 million euros, through the "Olympus" project, having requested, among other things, the inclusion of the project in the provisions of Greek Law 4864/2021 as a "Flagship Investment of Exceptional Importance" . The plant in Evia will incorporate innovative, large-scale carbon capture technologies such as Partial Oxyfuel, which can be replicated by other industrial sectors.
The investment will create at least 20 new jobs (EME). At the same time, the smooth and efficient operation of the new infrastructure, as well as the enhanced activity of the wider supply chain of the plant and the new infrastructure will support a total of 1,190 jobs in 2026 (55 jobs in the production unit, 771 in the related branches and logistics chains and 364 through enhancing the incomes of workers and providers of capital.
"Synchronization" DESFA - Energean
As is known, Energean 's "Prinos CCS" and the plan for DESFA 's CO2 transmission network have received the green light from the relevant technical committee of the EU, for inclusion in the new list of Projects of Common European Interest (PCI) . In the financing of the DESFA pipeline by REPowerEU, it is foreseen that the project will be built in synchronization with the Energean warehouse in Prinos.
Thus, it is reported that the project should be put into operation in 2026, with its construction being completed at the end of the previous year. By the 2nd quarter of 2024, its environmental permitting should have taken place, as should the Feasibility Study (FEED).
Energean aims to have the repository ready to operate by early 2026, with an annual storage capacity of 1 million tonnes of CO2 in an initial phase. In the next phase, with the full development of the project, the capacity will increase to 3 million tons of CO2. The budget of the project, in order to reach full capacity, exceeds 1 billion euros.
The infrastructure is included for financing in "Greece 2.0". For its use, 8 non-binding MoUs have been signed so far, with the same number of industries in the wider region launching CO2 sequestration projects. The preliminary agreements exceed the annual capacity of 3 million tons of CO2.
source: insider.gr (Deligiannis K.)
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