Decarbonization News — Air Liquide and Holcim have signed a strategic agreement to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) at Holcim’s Obourg cement plant in Belgium. The project aims to transform the facility into a leading near-zero emissions cement production site, marking a significant step in the decarbonization of one of the world’s hardest-to-abate industrial sectors.
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Cement Decarbonization Project Overview and Technology
Under the agreement, Air Liquide will supply oxygen for Holcim’s oxyfuel-ready clinker production line and deploy its proprietary Cryocap™ OXY carbon capture technology. This solution enables highly efficient CO₂ capture from the cement production process. The captured carbon dioxide will be transported via pipelines to a CO₂ export hub, such as Antwerp@C, before permanent offshore storage in the North Sea.
The initiative targets the capture of approximately 1.1 million tons of CO₂ per year. It forms a core component of Holcim’s GO4ZERO program, which seeks to achieve carbon neutrality for the company’s Belgian operations by the end of the decade. The project also contributes to the European Union’s 2050 net-zero emissions goal.
Strategic and Environmental Significance
Cement production accounts for roughly 7-8% of global CO₂ emissions, primarily due to process emissions from limestone calcination and fuel combustion. Traditional abatement methods are limited, making CCS one of the most promising pathways for deep decarbonization in the sector.
Émilie Mouren-Renouard, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, stated:
“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… this new milestone agreement for the pioneering GO4ZERO project is a powerful signal for Belgium’s industrial decarbonization and energy transition.”
The partnership builds on Air Liquide’s expertise in industrial gases and carbon capture technologies. It demonstrates how cross-industry collaboration, combined with innovative solutions, can scale decarbonization efforts while maintaining industrial competitiveness.
Path Forward and Challenges
The agreement represents an important milestone, but the Final Investment Decision (FID) is still pending. It will depend on securing additional partnerships across the value chain and obtaining public sector support, including regulatory frameworks for CO₂ infrastructure and derisking mechanisms.
If realized, the Obourg project could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across Europe and beyond, helping cement manufacturers transition toward near-zero emissions production. The collaboration highlights the critical role of CCS in heavy industry decarbonization and the importance of public-private partnerships to unlock large-scale deployment.
This development reinforces growing momentum in industrial carbon management and positions Belgium as a potential leader in next-generation low-carbon cement production.
