The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, as well as Chile, will work closely together on green hydrogen, the relevant parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Glasgow during the COP26 climate summit.
In a news statement, the ports state, “This collaboration will remove the final impediments and gaps in the run-up to the effective start-up of green production, the setting up of the logistics chain between the continents, and logistics in the Belgian seaports and their hinterland.”
They “express their interest in cooperating on the important strategic issue of establishing a corridor between their countries for the transportation of green hydrogen or derivatives produced in Chile and received in Belgian ports for further distribution to meet the expected demand in Europe,” according to the memorandum.
“Hydrogen carriers will be the right source of energy to support the shift in areas such as maritime commerce, chemicals, fuel and steam production,” both ports say.
The hydrogen will be received and stored at the ports, after which it will be distributed to users of power, heat, chemicals, and transportation.
The import of green hydrogen for Belgium, according to Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green), is the “cheapest route and required for the energy changeover to 100 percent renewable energy and climate neutrality by 2050.” It has also had hydrogen agreements with Oman and Namibia in the past.
