Europe’s largest industrial carbon capture facility officially inaugurated at Yara’s production site in Sluiskil, the Netherlands. The project marks a major milestone in industrial decarbonisation and establishes the first complete cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain for capturing, transporting and permanently storing CO₂. The facility demonstrates how large-scale carbon capture can help energy-intensive industries reduce emissions while maintaining production and strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
Yara Facility to Capture 800,000 Tons of CO₂ Annually
Yara Sluiskil, one of Europe’s largest ammonia and fertilizer production facilities, can now capture and liquefy up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year from its ammonia production operations. Following capture, the liquefied CO₂ will be transported by ship to Norway. There, the Northern Lights CO₂ transport and storage system will permanently store the captured carbon dioxide beneath the seabed. By capturing these emissions, the project will also help Yara avoid carbon-related costs on the captured volumes.
With appropriate framework conditions in place, the project is expected to capture and permanently store approximately 12 million tonnes of CO₂ over 15 years. Consequently, it could make a significant contribution to Europe’s climate targets while supporting the transformation of carbon-intensive industries.
CCS Supports Industrial Decarbonisation
The project highlights the growing role of carbon capture and storage technology in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate industrial sectors. CCS can help energy-intensive industries—including fertilizer, ammonia, cement and waste management—lower their carbon emissions while continuing to manufacture essential products in Europe. Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of Yara International, said the Sluiskil facility demonstrates that large-scale industrial decarbonisation is already possible. He also emphasized the need for Europe to reduce emissions while retaining industrial capacity, jobs and critical value chains within the region.
Cross-Border CO₂ Infrastructure Connects Europe
A key feature of the project is its cross-border CO₂ value chain. Instead of storing captured carbon at the production site, the project connects industrial CO₂ capture in the Netherlands with permanent offshore storage in Norway. This approach demonstrates how shared infrastructure can enable industrial companies across Europe to access permanent CO₂ storage. Moreover, cooperation across national borders and industrial value chains can accelerate the development of Europe’s emerging carbon management infrastructure.
Investment in Europe’s Industrial Competitiveness
European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra highlighted the importance of practical climate solutions that can deliver measurable emissions reductions while supporting industrial competitiveness. The Sluiskil project demonstrates how technological innovation and international cooperation can work together to create a lower-carbon industrial base. For energy-intensive industries, CCS can therefore provide a pathway to reduce emissions without necessarily relocating production outside Europe. This could help preserve jobs, manufacturing capacity and strategic industrial value chains within the region.
Northern Lights Advances Europe’s Carbon Management Market
The project also represents an important milestone for Northern Lights, the CO₂ transport and storage partnership responsible for permanently storing the captured emissions offshore in Norway. Tim Heijn, Managing Director of Northern Lights, said the project brings to reality the agreement signed with Yara in 2023. He noted that the collaboration demonstrates the viability of CO₂ capture, cross-border transport and permanent storage for European industry. The project provides an important building block for the development of Europe’s wider carbon management market, showing how industry and governments can collaborate to establish the infrastructure required for industrial decarbonisation.
A Major Step Towards Industrial Decarbonisation
The inauguration of the Yara Sluiskil carbon capture facility marks a significant development in Europe’s transition towards lower-carbon industrial production. With the ability to capture up to 800,000 tons of CO₂ annually and potentially store around 12 million tonnes over 15 years, the project demonstrates the scale at which CCS can contribute to industrial emissions reduction. As per the press relese, as Europe continues to balance climate ambitions with industrial competitiveness, the Sluiskil project provides a practical example of how carbon capture, cross-border transport and permanent CO₂ storage can work together to support a more resilient and sustainable industrial future.
