The port of Antwerp prepares for climate challenges
Port of Antwerp is constantly growing commercially and also making significant investments to meet climate challenges.
As the second largest port in Europe, after Rotterdam (Netherlands), the port of Antwerp contains a huge petrochemical complex that produces 18 million tonnes of CO2 every year. So it will be a huge challenge for the port authorities to meet the European objective of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030.
Huge investments of billions of euros will be needed to liquefy the carbon dioxide and ship it to Norway or the UK for storage in former gas fields. The objective is to meet Belgium's stated goal of becoming a leader in "green" hydrogen by 2030. This will involve manufacturing hydrogen from water and electricity from renewable energy sources, with a zero-carbon footprint.
The development of this green hydrogen also requires shipowners to turn to new types of transport vessels. The port of Antwerp still has to build a liquefaction terminal and develop its pipeline network in the coming years.
The Belgian economic lung, as represented by the port of Antwerp, is therefore currently changing to become part of an international economy that is more respectful of the planet.