2025-09-29
Advario is an international company specialising in the storage and handling of liquid energy products and chemicals. Advario is also active in the emerging CC(U)S chain. Cathy De Graeve, Business Development Manager, and Frederic Vagenende, Manager of Strategic Implementation, have been working for several years on the question of how to make the CO₂ chain from emission source to storage site both operational and cost-effective.
Advario comprises a global network of 14 terminals, each with the potential to support the energy transition. The focus is on chemicals, gases and new energy carriers such as methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and CO₂. In Antwerp, Advario operates a terminal on each bank of the Scheldt.
With its long-standing expertise in liquefied-gas storage and robust logistics capabilities, Advario is well positioned to manage the CO₂ chain from emission source to permanent storage in the North Sea, including bundling, storage and transhipment. "This requires careful coordination across the chain to avoid unnecessary conversion of CO₂ from gas to liquid and back again. That costs energy and money. Any unnecessary conversion increases the cost of the process," Cathy explains.
Our logistics infrastructure, experience and networks mean that today we can collect CO₂ from inland and export it to the sea just as efficiently as we import products from the sea and distribute them inland.
Advario’s CC(U)S efforts focus on storing and handling liquid CO₂, particularly imports delivered by rail, inland navigation or road rather than pipelines. The Advario Stolthaven Antwerp terminal already offers a strong foundation, capable of receiving liquid CO₂ via railcar, inland navigation ship or truck, with sufficient quay facilities and room to expand rail capacity. Today, the terminal has 16 jetties and 26 pipeline connections.
"What is certain is that liquid CO₂ streams will play a key role, as not every emitter will have a pipeline nearby. Liquefaction for (sea) transport to the permanent storage site is costly, and the required purification process ensures that the CO₂ is delivered in liquid form without interruption," explains Frederic. In its initial phase, Advario plans to start CC(U)S operations around 2029-2030, utilising the space available at the Stolthaven Antwerp terminal. As European grants come with deadlines, certain larger projects must be up and running before they expire. Advario is targeting a capacity of 1.5 to 1.8 million tons of CO2 throughput per year.
Cost remains an important factor, but at higher volumes the price per ton falls sharply, making close coordination between multiple parties essential. Investment for a single early customer, without the prospect of a second, would make it prohibitively expensive. Projects should be synchronised as much as possible; otherwise, starting too early or too late will drive costs up again. Careful timing and synchronisation throughout the chain are essential.
The supply of CO2 streams is expected to increase exponentially. The key question is no longer whether sufficient volumes will be available, but rather when they will become available. Timing is of the essence.
Advario sees great potential for CC(U)S in Germany, as well as in Switzerland. Planned CO₂ pipelines are delayed, and for industrial clusters located far from waterways, such as the cement sector, rail remains the only viable solution.
Inland navigation , meanwhile, is a viable option for water-bound regions that are not affected by low river levels.
The strategic location in Antwerp is a major asset in this regard, combined with multimodal accessibility by rail, water and road. "German customers also really appreciate the port's efforts in the area of rail transport," says Cathy. "German and Swiss customers with restricted waterway access show strong interest here."
Advario's core message is clear: CC(U)S is technically feasible, but only affordable if all links in the chain, from industry to transport and storage, are efficiently aligned and invest together.
