A brand new circular economy project, ‘CO2necta’ has recently been created between Enagás, Holcim and Saggas. This excellent new project is dedicated to promoting the decarbonisation of industries, through the development of new technologies.

The aim for these new technologies is to prevent the emissions of over 560,000 tonnes of CO2 on an annual basis from the Valencian Community. Preventing these emissions would be accomplished through capturing and liquefying the gas. Not only would this be beneficial to the environment, but this project is also a perfect example of energy efficiency. This is because, for liquefaction, the cold which is generated during the regasification process, carried out at Saggas, would then go on to be used.

Combining all of these benefits, this innovative new project, CO2necta contemplates the future development of a CO2 capture plant, which would be located at the Holcim factory. This plant would become a ‘coeduct’ by Enagás, with the intention of making it possible to transport it to the Saggas terminal, which is based within the post of Sagunto. From there, storage facilities at this regasification terminal would become responsible for maintaining the CO2 liquefied at -30ºC until it is ready to be loaded onto ships. Once on the ships, it will then be transported to final storage sites.

Overall, the aim of this project is to prevent the emission of over 560,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide on an annual basis. Now the project will be submitted to the European Commission’s next call for Innovation Funds.

The Valencian Regional Minister for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Marián Cano, paid a visit to the Holcim and Saggas facilities in Sagunto, in order to learn about the ‘CO2necta’ project.

Throughout this visit, Marián Cano showed support to the development of the project, emphasising that the “support from the Government of Carlos Mazón in promoting this type of project, which brings so much added value to our companies and our territory. The Generalitat is committed to advancing decarbonisation in industry as a key element of innovation and competitiveness, something that is perfectly reflected in this project.”

President of the Port Authority of Valencia - to which the Port of Sagunto is attached - Mar Chao, the Mayor of Sagunto, Darío Moreno, and the Councillor for Industry of Sagunto City Council, Toni Iborra, also attended the visit. CEO of Holcim España, Ricardo de Pablos; the Business Development General Manager, Fernando Impuesto; and the General Manager of Saggas, Santiago Álvarez also came to the visit, on behalf of the companies promoting the project.

The CEO of Holcim Spain, Ricardo de Pablos, commented that “CO2necta is a key project to boost the decarbonisation of cement and concrete, as well as a growth engine for the industry in our country”.

For his part, the Enagás’ Business Development General Manager, added, “CO2necta is a pioneering initiative in the sustainable management of CO2 in Spain that will place a strategic infrastructure such as the Saggas regasification terminal in a privileged position in Europe to advance the industry’s decarbonisation efforts”.