The EU and Norway have mutual interest in cooperating on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in developing countries

“Carbon capture and storage in China and other developing countries is necessary for reaching global climate targets”, is the message from Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim and Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Terje Riis-Johansen. They confirm that Norway and the EU have mutual interest in cooperating on CCS in the developing world in order to ensure concrete and effective results.

Minister Solheim states that: “Norway and other developed countries have to contribute to the development of CCS technology. China will have an increasingly important role in combating climate change, and the European Commission’s cooperation with China on CCS is important”. Solheim refers to the Norwegian cooperation with South-Africa and stresses that it is also important to work on CCS with other major carbon emitters in the developing world.

Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Riis-Johansen is quoted saying that: “The planned demonstration projects in the EU and the Norwegian CCS-projects are important for developing and spreading the technology to developing countries”.

On June 25th the European Commission adopted a communication on financing CCS in developing countries. Since 2005 the EU has cooperated with China on promoting CCS. Strengthening the financial base is of key importance for spreading CCS-technology in the developing world. The communication sets out the European Commission’s plans for establishing an investment scheme to co-finance the design and construction of a power plant to demonstrate CCS technology in China.

The Commission invites broad cooperation and public-private partnerships to secure the required funding for CCS in China. Strong political support from Chinese government is important, as is the support to CCS from the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

Norway already cooperates with the EU on climate and clean energy investments in developing countries and contributes to a common fund for this (The Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund). SINTEF, a major Norwegian research organization, has played a central role in the COACH-project, promoting cooperation on CCS between EU and China.

“Establishing CCS-projects in the developing world is a major challenge, and broad partnerships are necessary for attaining the required financing” says the Minister of the Environment and International Development. 

The Minister of Petroleum and Energy adds that: “..the Norwegian competence and experience from 13 years of CO2-depositing will hopefully be an important contribution”.

Press release (The European Commission)