Shipping, logistics and marine service provider GAC has signed a formal agreement to support the Northern Lights joint venture, part of the Norwegian government’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) programme – called Longship.
An incorporated general partnership owned by Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell, the Northern Lights joint venture is one of the first to offer commercial CCS services to help reduce and remove industrial emissions in Europe. Liquified CO₂ is shipped to an onshore receiving terminal in Øygarden, west Norway, and transported by pipeline for permanent storage in a reservoir 2,600 m under the seabed.
Through this agreement, GAC will provide agency, Customs clearance and data integration services in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands for the vessels bringing capture liquefied CO₂ to the facility in Øygarden, which is connected by submarine pipelines to offshore storage wells. There is scope for further countries to be added.
GAC has had prior involvement in the Northern Lights joint venture, having last year signed a global husbandry agreement with K Line LNG – the company managing the first two LCO₂ tankers being built in China to transport captured CO₂ from emitters in Europe to the Northern Lights joint venture terminal.
“Our deep involvement with this groundbreaking project has been a powerful learning journey which has armed us with invaluable experience in carbon capture logistics, international maritime regulations and sustainable shipping solutions,” said Ahmet Øzsoy, GAC’s managing director in Norway. “These will stand us in good stead to support other projects following the Northern Lights JV’s lead.”
Last year, GAC Spain opened a new office at the port of Huelva.
