Norway Drops Carbon Capture and Storage Programme at Mongstad
Norway is to discontinue its Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) programme plans at Mongstad.
“The Government has … concluded, after careful consideration, that the risk connected to the Mongstad facility is too high and has for that reason decided that the work on the full-scale facility will be discontinued,” said Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe.
In a note released on Friday, Borten Moe suggested that integrating a full-scale capture facility at Mongstad would be both challenging and costly.
“We have gained valuable experience at Mongstad, which can be of use in other projects,” said Minister of Environment Bard Vegar Solhjell.
The plan had been to capture carbon emissions from a gas plant and pipe them into underground storage on the Norwegian continental shelf. The International Energy Agency claims that CCS technology is pivotal to reducing carbon emissions.
The economic recession in most of Europe and the consequent low price of CO2-emissions contributed to reduce commercial interests for CCS.
The pilot project at Mongstad, launched in 2007 amid much fanfare, has encountered also other problems related to delays and cost overruns.
“Out commitment and high ambitions for Carbon Capture and Storage remains as strong as every, said Borten Moe and Vegar Solhjell.