This was the overriding message from a policy breakfast organised by The Parliament in partnership with DESFA, the Greek Gas Transmission System Operator, and attended by policymakers and members from the entire carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain.
While much of the attention focuses on northern Europe, CCS is developing particularly fast in the Eastern Mediterranean. Attendees highlighted the essential role of CO₂ transport infrastructure projects to build a fully integrated regional CCS hub, as such connections can unlock the region’s full potential by efficiently linking heavy emitters to available storage sites.
“If we are serious about reaching net-zero emissions and preserving industrial competitiveness, the EU must act decisively to support CCS in the south.”
In his opening remarks, Greek MEP Dimitris Tsiodras (EPP) – the host of the event – highlighted progress on CCS projects in southern Europe and argued that more focus is needed on the region's specificities and CO₂ transport and storage needs to avoid falling behind in the net-zero race. “If we are serious about reaching net-zero emissions and preserving industrial competitiveness,” he stressed, “the EU must act decisively to support CCS in the south.” A bold message, given the EU target of 50 million tons of CO₂ storage by 2030 demands over €3 billion in carbon storage infrastructure and around €12–16 billion in CO₂ transport infrastructure by 2040.
MEP Tsiodras showcased how Greece is leading developments in the region, with Prinos, one of the few regional offshore storage sites, DESFA’s readiness to advance key CO₂ transport infrastructure and similar EU-supported projects by local cement and refining industries, the country is positioned to become a central player in establishing an Eastern Mediterranean CCS hub.
Maria Rita Galli, CEO of DESFA, walked the audience through the ApolloCO2 project, which aims to establish the first CCS hub in South Eastern Europe. By combining a network of pipelines, CO₂ liquefaction and a temporary storage terminal, the innovative scheme is designed to connect hard-to-abate industries with CO₂ storage facilities of Prinos, in Greece, and Ravenna, in Italy. ApolloCO₂ will strengthen intra-European connections and unlock storage potential in the broader region, including potentially North Africa in the future, addressing the issue of limited storage capacity that industries in the region are facing.
“This €500 million project is a proof that efficient, integrated CCS can be achieved in Southeast Europe, but it needs public support to succeed.”
The model also integrates DESFA’s LNG facility infrastructure, using cold energy from gasification to liquefy CO₂ more sustainably. “This €500 million project isn’t just infrastructure. It’s a proof of concept that efficient, integrated CCS can be achieved in Southeast Europe,” she said. “But it needs public support to succeed.” DESFA has applied for €170 million from this year’s EU Innovation Fund cycle to de-risk the investment.
Reiterating these calls, Daniel Mes, a long-standing European Commission official and now a member of the EU’s Future Competitive Task Force, explained the CCS strategy by outlining the ‘three Bs’ framework: ‘Believe’ in CCS as a legitimate, necessary climate solution; ‘Broaden’ its appeal by encouraging Mediterranean investment; and ‘Build’ a strong business case by developing early maritime transport options and regional storage hubs.
According to Mes, CCS is fundamental for the EU to have a fully decarbonised industrial future when it comes to hard-to-abate sectors like cement and heavy industry. To prevent the Mediterranean from being left behind, the Task Force is exploring whether CCS should be a new strategic focus area in the region. Critically, maritime CO₂ transport is essential in the early phases, when pipeline networks aren’t yet viable. That’s why regional cooperation and proximity to storage sites are key.
Mes closed by referring to another regional initiative called 'the Callisto network', which includes Eni and Snam's Ravenna CCS project, that could lead to connect emitters across Italy and France. With demand from Italian industry already six times higher than the site’s current capacity, the project shows the urgent need for rapid scaling. If Europe is serious about reaching its climate goals while safeguarding industrial competitiveness, Mes argued, then accelerating CCS deployment in the Mediterranean must be a top priority.
Maria Rita Galli, CEO of DESFA, walked the audience through the TSO’s ApolloCO2 project.
The creation of a CCS hub to transport and store CO2 in the region was also supported by Tassos Vlassopoulos, representing HelleniQ Energy, who conceded that “CCS is not a new technology. But its deployment at industrial scale in Europe has been slow.” If Europe is to decarbonize quickly and effectively, he argued, then CCS is “essential” in sectors that can't easily switch to green alternatives. “It offers a direct path to cut emissions from existing infrastructure without waiting for disruptive overhauls,” he added.
In agreement was Aris Tsikouras, Director of Decarbonization Strategy at Titan Cement Group, who elaborated on Titan’s detailed roadmap to cut emissions by 2030. Tsikouras said that, as 60% of cement emissions are from the production process itself, not fuel, CCS is the key to achieving net zero.
In 2023, Titan secured a €234 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund to develop Ifestos, the largest CCS project in the European cement industry, aiming at capturing 1.9 million yearly tons of CO₂ while producing cement competitively in a decarbonising global economy. Ifestos’ zero-carbon cement will be a game-changing product in the green construction revolution.
Snam, a leading Italian energy company, concluded the speeches by highlighting Europe’s imbalance in CCS infrastructure, as 90% of Europe’s CO₂ storage capacity lies north of Brussels, while much of the industrial activity and need lie south. Snam showcased their country’s Ravenna CCS project, part of the Callisto project and developed in a joint venture with Eni. Already operational at a small scale, it has proven the feasibility of CCS in Southern Europe.
Projects like Prinos, ApolloCO₂, Ifestos, and Ravenna demonstrate the region’s ambition and technical foundation. The full value chain agrees on the next step: the EU must deliver robust funding, a predictable and enabling regulatory framework, and allow strong cross-border cooperation to scale CCS across Southern Europe and beyond. By supporting CO₂ infrastructure development, the Mediterranean’s strategic role can be transformed into a driver of continent-wide impact.
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