Impact & status of the Anthemis project

Anthemis is the first European project to demonstrate a full CCS value chain from an inland industrial site, combining CO₂ capture, transport via a pipeline network, and permanent storage in the North Sea.
It will enable the capture and storage of more than 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, directly contributing to the climate objectives of Wallonia, Belgium and the European Union.

The project generates a major structuring effect:

• it secures more than 100 direct jobs and nearly 2,000 jobs within the HM Benelux ecosystem;
• it paves the way for replication in several other HM plants in Europe, including many that could integrate a full CCS chain;
• it strengthens sector competitiveness through the development of evoZero® net‑zero cement.

Beyond CO₂ capture, Anthemis is building a robust and replicable European CCS value chain. Its impact will be decisive for:

• the decarbonisation of heavy industry;
• the energy transition in Wallonia and Belgium;
• Europe’s industrial competitiveness;
• the availability of low‑carbon construction materials.

Anthemis has already reached several key milestones.

At the institutional level, it benefits from strong political support at the Walloon, federal and European levels, backed by numerous letters of support from authorities, NGOs, industry players and CO₂ transport and storage partners.

Technically, the project design is firmly established:

• the Oxyfuel Advanced technology has been integrated into the industrial design;
• communication and educational tools strengthen stakeholder engagement;
• the permitting process is underway, with a public information meeting held in November 2024.

The ecosystem required for the future CCS chain is now consolidated, with advanced collaborations involving Fluxys, Equinor and Linde, as well as active participation in European industrial, academic and institutional networks.

These developments position Anthemis as a mature project ahead of the Final Investment Decision (FID) and ready to move into its implementation phase.

Heidelberg Materials intends to build a unique and innovative carbon capture unit at its Antoing plant. The so-called Anthemis project (standing for: Antoing Heidelberg Materials Emissions Integrated Solution).

More than 800.000 tons of CO₂ will be captured every year when fully entering in operation around the end of this decade. Heidelberg Materials Antoing will therefore produce clinker (the raw material used to manufacture cement) with a near-zero CO₂ footprint through carbon sequestration.

Thanks to Anthemis, Heidelberg Materials will be able to provide more than 15 million tons of near-zero CO₂ cement to the construction market during the first ten years of the project operation.