In early August, the German government approved landmark reforms aimed at accelerating the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure
The new draft legislation designates the building and operation of CO₂ storage facilities and pipelines as being of ‘overriding public interest’, thereby streamlining planning and approval processes
Under the reforms, sectors that are difficult to decarbonize—such as cement, lime production, and gas‑fired power generation—will be allowed to store CO₂ offshore (under the seabed) or onshore, depending on state-level approval
Moreover, the law allows adaptation of existing natural gas pipelines for CO₂ transport, improving cost-effectiveness and leveraging existing infrastructure
Geological estimates indicate that Germany’s North Sea territory holds between 1.5 and 8.3 billion tonnes of CO₂ storage capacity, with an annual injection potential of up to 20 million tonnes.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katharina Reiche called the reforms “an important milestone”, essential for maintaining the competitiveness of German industry. Previously proposed CCS initiatives stalled after a coalition collapse, but this new version is more ambitious and politically backed.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
