Austria: Cement producer Kirchdorfer Group and Scheuch GmbH have both welcomed the planned lifting of the ban on CO2 storage in Austria. According to the partners, the defined volume limits will allow for the implementation of initial carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the country for the first time, provided that the approval processes move forward quickly.
The partners have explicitly welcomed the proposed new legal framework for the geological storage of CO2. Following a de-facto ban in place since 2011, the partners say that this creates the legal foundation necessary to implement CCS in Austria. According to them, the initial national upper storage limits proposed offer ‘more than enough scope’ for the pilot phase of CCS, demonstrating that legislators are considering the entire trajectory, from the first facility to large-scale expansion, rather than imposing a static cap on how much CO2 can be stored.
Success will now depend on implementation; whether CCS gains momentum in Austria or becomes mired in administrative bottlenecks will hinge on the permitting procedures, according to the partners. They are hopeful that the classification of such projects as being of ‘overriding public interest’ will provide the necessary momentum.
Joao Paulo Pereira da Silva, CEO of Kirchdorfer Group, said "As a cement manufacturer, CO2 storage is not an optional extra but a matter of survival, as there is a portion of our emissions that we simply cannot avoid through technical means." Thomas Rainer of Scheuch added "We have the technology, we have the know-how, and now we finally have the legal framework for CCS as well. This allows Austria to become a pioneer rather than just a bystander. It is crucial that the permitting processes for the initial facilities are streamlined and efficient."