Technology Centre Mongstad opened

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe today attended the opening of the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). TCM is the largest and most flexible facility of its kind for testing carbon capture.

"There is no solution to the challenges presented by climate change which does not incorporate carbon capture and storage. Technological development is crucial if we are to make progress in this important area. The inauguration of Technology Centre Mongstad is a ground-breaking event in this regard. The experience and new knowledge we will gather through the tests conducted at the facility will bring us closer to achieving our goal,” says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe.

TCM is the only test centre to test two different types of technology applicable to emissions from both coal- and gas-fired power plants. The technologies to be tested during the first phase are based on chilled ammonia and amines. TCM has been constructed with a capture capacity of up to 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The centre is owned by Gassnova (which manages the state’s interests) (75.12%), Statoil (20%), Shell (2.44%) and the South African company Sasol (2.44%).

“The testing of technologies at TCM is not only important for Norway. The aim is for the work of the technology centre to make a substantial contribution to the development of CCS technologies globally. This requires close cooperation with industry,” says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe.

In 2006, the Norwegian state and Statoil signed an agreement on the construction of a centre for testing and demonstration of CO₂ capture technologies at Mongstad. The investment decision was made by the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) in May 2009. TCM has invited all suppliers of CO₂ capture technology to notify their interest in utilising the facilities at TCM . Initially, Alstom (chilled ammonia) and Aker Solutions (amines) will test their technologies at the centre.

Ola Borten Moe's speech can be found here.

See also State Secretary Eli Blakstad's speech on CCS seminar in Bergen 8 May.