Nearly two billion NOK for Carbon Capture and Storage in 2009

The Norwegian Government has ambitious goals for carbon capture and storage (CCS), and the work to reach these goals will continue as planned in 2009. The Norwegian Government proposes to allocate over NOK 1.9 billion in 2009 to CCS, through projects at Mongstad and Kårstø, research and development of CCS technologies and international projects.

The Norwegian Government has proposed an allocation of NOK 920 million to fund the State’s share of investments in the Test Centre Mongstad. The Test Centre will contribute to industrial experience which may reduce the costs and risks associated with large-scale carbon capture.

–The Test Centre Mongstad is one of the main instruments in the Norwegian Government’s policies to combat climate change. It is an important step on the way to develop technologies which may reduce CO2 emissions, says Mr. Terje Riis-Johansen, Minister of Petroleum and Energy. –The goal is that the project will make a significant contribution to the development of CCS in Norway as well as internationally, says Minister Riis-Johansen.

For the planning of the CO2 capture plant at Kårstø, the Norwegian Government has proposed an allocation of NOK 190 million. The investment decision is planned to be taken in the end of 2009. A budget of NOK 570 million has been proposed for the planning and preparations of the transportation and storage of captured CO2.

CLIMIT, the national programme to fund research, development and demonstration of CCS technologies, will be allocated approximately NOK 150 million in 2009.

The Norwegian Government has developed an action plan for international promotion of development and implementation of CCS. The goal is to encourage acceptance for CCS as an instrument to curb emissions. The Norwegian Government proposes an allocation of NOK 20 million to fund the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy’s work to promote CCS internationally.