What is CO2next

CO2next aims to build a liquid CO2 terminal at the Maasvlakte in the port of Rotterdam, that can be used by customers not connected to a CO2 pipeline to ship liquid CO2. Therefore, the terminal will be a critical piece of CO2 infrastructure which can be leveraged as part of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) chain. The technical feasibility and development of such CCS chain is jointly explored with the Aramis CCS project, to which the terminal will be connected.

Potential customers for the CO2next Terminal have been approached in 2022, which to date has led to several customers who are keen to leverage the open access terminal for their decarbonisation needs.

The terminal has a launch capacity of approximately 5.4 million tonnes per year (Mtpa) and a potential to grow its capacity to approximately 15 Mtpa, depending on market demand and the development of the Aramis project and other CCS chains. 

Project Status

Permitting
Before the project can start, several permits and a ‘project decision’ are required. Throughout the entire procedure it’s possible to participate. The draft decisions are made public for review in several batches, in 2024 and 2025, in collaboration with the Aramis initiative. 

The first batch was available for public inspection from September 13 to October 24, 2024, along with the draft project decision and the Environmental Impact Report.

The second batch is available for public review from December 20, 2024, to January 30, 2025. This batch includes draft permits for the distribution platform at sea, three connecting pipelines to injection platforms of TotalEnergies, Shell, and Eni, the expansion of the Porthos compressor station, and species protection (flora and fauna).  
An online information session will take place on January 16, 2025, for which you need to register in advance. 

For more details about the project, the draft permits, and the procedures, visit the Ministry’s project page www.rvo.nl/aramis

Project
In June 2024, the CO2next partners have jointly decided to enter the so-called  FEED (Front End Engineering Design) phase. During the FEED phase the design, the realisation schedule and the cost of the proposed CO2next terminal will be further defined, the relevant permits can be received and customers will be contracted in preparation for the Final Investment Decision (FID) currently planned for 2025.  Following this final investment decision, subject to permits being granted by relevant authorities, the building phase can start and the terminal is currently foreseen to commence commercial operations in 2028.

Safety
Safety is a top priority. Safety is a carefully considered aspect for all elements of the project, as the risk to people and nature must be as low as reasonably practical. CO2 is a substance that naturally poses little risk. 

We are committed to build a safe terminal in collaboration with the responsible authorities. 

• The risks of CO2 transport and storage are low.
• CO2 is naturally present in the air; only very high concentrations pose a potential risk.
• CO2 is not flammable.
• CO2 is a gas that dissipates very quickly.

Nature & Environment
The aim is to build a terminal with minimal impact on nature and its surrounding environment. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the impact of the terminal, in close collaboration with the government that will assess these studies and findings prior to granting permits.