Holcim and Air Liquide have announced a major collaboration to implement a large-scale carbon capture system at Holcim’s Obourg cementworks in Belgium, aiming for net-zero cement by 2029.
Air Liquide and Holcim have sealed an agreement to advance a large-scale carbon capture installation at Holcim’s Obourg cementworks in Belgium, a key element of the company’s GO4ZERO decarbonisation programme.
Under the arrangement, Air Liquide will provide oxygen for the plant’s oxyfuel‑ready clinker line and deploy its Cryocap™ OXY carbon capture and purification system, technology the company says can remove up to 95% of process CO₂. The arrangement envisages captured CO₂ , roughly 1.1 million tonnes per year under the project’s design , being routed by pipeline to a CO₂ export hub such as Antwerp@C and then shipped for permanent offshore storage in the North Sea. Air Liquide framed the deal as part of its wider strategy to back industrial decarbonisation through CCS solutions.
Holcim positions the project as central to its ambition to deliver carbon neutrality in Belgium by the end of the decade. According to Holcim, the GO4ZERO development will ultimately produce net‑zero cement at scale: the broader scheme is designed to yield around 2 million tonnes of net‑zero cement annually by 2029 and to reduce kiln CO₂ intensity by around 30% in an initial phase. The company says the programme has already attracted support from the EU Innovation Fund.
Construction of the Obourg site is underway as a multi‑phase transformation. The first phase replaces the existing clinker kiln with an air–oxyfuel switchable kiln and increases use of alternative fuels and partly decarbonised raw materials. The second phase adds the Cryocap™ OXY capture and purification train so CO₂ can be conditioned for transport. Industry reporting notes that Fluxys’ network is expected to be the route to Antwerp@C for export, and BEIS‑style infrastructure clarity and de‑risking mechanisms remain among the public‑sector prerequisites for the full scheme.
Holcim has disclosed a capital envelope in excess of EUR 500 million for the GO4ZERO plant, and main civil works contractors include BESIX and Denys. Both companies have been appointed to deliver the major construction packages required to convert Obourg to next‑generation production methods and to install associated capture and handling systems.
Despite the technical scope, the project’s Final Investment Decision is still conditional. Holcim has said it requires additional partners across the value chain and firm public support on regulations, transport infrastructure and financial de‑risking in order to proceed to final approval. The companies’ statements stop short of confirming an irreversible commitment until those elements are secured.
For sectors such as cement, where process emissions are intrinsic to calcination as well as fuel combustion, the Obourg plan combines measures to lower direct emissions with post‑combustion purification and export for geological storage. Industry sources describe the approach as a template for large industrial clusters seeking to couple on‑site abatement with regional CO₂ transport and storage hubs.
If realised as outlined, Obourg would represent one of Europe’s larger single‑site CCS integrations in cement manufacturing and a significant step toward meeting EU net‑zero ambitions for heavy industry. The timetable published by Holcim targets commercial operations of the GO4ZERO facility by 2029, subject to the successful alignment of technical partners, financing and regulatory arrangements.
- https://www.cemnet.com/News/story/180884/air-liquide-and-holcim-sign-agreement-for-obourg-ccs-project.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.holcim.com/what-we-do/green-operations/ccus/go4zero – Holcim’s GO4ZERO project aims to deploy an innovative air-oxyfuel switchable kiln with carbon purification technology at its Obourg cement plant in Belgium. The project targets capturing approximately 1.1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and is designed to be operational by 2029, contributing to Holcim’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in Belgium by the end of the decade. In 2023, the project was selected for a grant from the EU Innovation Fund.
- https://www.holcim.com/media/media-releases/go4zero-groundbreaking-ceremony – Holcim has commenced the construction of its state-of-the-art GO4ZERO plant in Obourg, Belgium, with a planned investment exceeding EUR 500 million. The plant is engineered to produce 2 million tonnes of net-zero cement annually by 2029. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra, highlighting the project’s significance in advancing Europe’s decarbonisation efforts.
- https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/go4zero-project-belgium/ – The GO4ZERO Project involves modernising Holcim’s cement plant in Obourg, Belgium, to produce net-zero cement. The project is developed in two phases: the first phase replaces the current clinker kiln with a next-generation air-oxyfuel switchable kiln, reducing CO₂ emissions by nearly 30% per tonne of clinker. The second phase captures and purifies CO₂ using Air Liquide’s Cryocap™ Oxy technology, with the captured CO₂ transported via Fluxys’ network to the Antwerp@C CO₂ Export Hub for offshore storage in the North Sea.
- https://www.airliquide.com/sites/airliquide.com/files/2023-05/air-liquide-and-holcim-collaborate-project-decarbonize-cement-production-belgium_6450b11c65bc4.pdf – Air Liquide and Holcim have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on decarbonising Holcim’s new cement production plant in Belgium. Air Liquide will supply oxygen and deploy its proprietary Cryocap™ Oxy technology to capture and purify up to 95% of the CO₂ generated from the plant. The captured CO₂ will be transported via the Antwerp@C CO₂ Export Hub for offshore storage in the North Sea. The project is part of Holcim’s GO4Zero investment programme, aiming for carbon neutrality in Belgium by the end of the decade.
- https://www.cemnet.com/News/story/177025/holcim-breaks-ground-on-go4zero-plant.html – Holcim has broken ground on its GO4ZERO plant in Obourg, Belgium, marking an investment of over EUR 500 million. The plant is expected to produce 2 million tonnes of net-zero cement annually by 2029. The project transforms cement manufacturing by sourcing over 95% of its energy from alternative fuels and using over 30% of its raw mix from partly decarbonised alternative raw materials. The plant aims to cut CO₂ emissions by 30% as early as 2027 and will operate Europe’s largest installation of floating solar panels.
- https://www.besix.com/en/projects/go4zero – BESIX and Denys have been appointed as the main contractors for the civil works of Holcim’s GO4ZERO project in Obourg, Belgium. The project involves constructing a new clinker production unit designed to produce up to 2.3 million tonnes of carbon-neutral cementitious materials annually. The facility will include an air-oxyfuel switchable kiln, advanced carbon purification, and a comprehensive CO₂ capture and storage system. The project is being delivered in two phases, transitioning from wet to dry process technology and incorporating alternative raw materials and fuels.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on 2 March 2026, reporting on an agreement signed on 27 February 2026. This aligns with other recent reports from 27 February 2026, indicating freshness. ([be.airliquide.com](https://be.airliquide.com/fr/news/air-liquide-et-holcim-signent-un-accord-visant-decarboner-la-production-de-ciment-grace-un-projet-de-captage-du-carbone-en-belgique?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Air Liquide and Holcim representatives. Similar statements have been reported in other sources from 27 February 2026, suggesting these quotes are consistent and likely accurate. ([be.airliquide.com](https://be.airliquide.com/fr/news/air-liquide-et-holcim-signent-un-accord-visant-decarboner-la-production-de-ciment-grace-un-projet-de-captage-du-carbone-en-belgique?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article is from CemNet, a niche publication focused on the cement industry. While it is reputable within its niche, its reach is limited compared to major news organisations. The article is based on a press release from Air Liquide and Holcim, which typically warrants a high freshness score but may lack independent verification. ([be.airliquide.com](https://be.airliquide.com/fr/news/air-liquide-et-holcim-signent-un-accord-visant-decarboner-la-production-de-ciment-grace-un-projet-de-captage-du-carbone-en-belgique?utm_source=openai))
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the carbon capture project at Holcim’s Obourg plant are plausible and align with industry trends towards decarbonisation. Similar reports from 27 February 2026 support the feasibility of the project. ([be.airliquide.com](https://be.airliquide.com/fr/news/air-liquide-et-holcim-signent-un-accord-visant-decarboner-la-production-de-ciment-grace-un-projet-de-captage-du-carbone-en-belgique?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article reports on a recent agreement between Air Liquide and Holcim regarding a carbon capture project in Belgium. While the information is plausible and supported by other recent reports, the reliance on a press release without independent verification from third-party sources raises concerns about the article’s reliability. The source’s limited reach compared to major news organisations also contributes to a medium confidence level.
