Changes and opportunities: CO2 summit 2023

On March 7th and 8th, the Europe CO₂ Summit 2023 organized by gasworld was held in Austria, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the CO₂ market. Nippon Gases (an European operating company in Nippon Sanso Holdings Group), as the executive sponsor of the event, participated in several sessions, showcasing their expertise in the industry and their commitment to sustainability.

The name for this awaited event was “Navigating the perfect storm in supply”, referencing the many challenges faced by the CO₂ market. The gas that seemingly takes the blame for climate change and global warming also happens to be a product with an increasing demand in many industries.

Eduardo Gil, President of Nippon Gases, opened the event emphasizing the current situation in the market, stating that “CO₂ seems to be everywhere but not in a form that we can reliably use”. However, he identified different opportunities, citing an increasing number of industries capturing their CO₂ emissions and willing to sell them to a buyer with investment and technical capacity.

This opening speech also included the need for decarbonization and sustainable practices within the CO₂ industry, as there is a growing focus on a ‘circular economy’ approach to industrial projects in Europe.

He also explained Nippon Gases’ commitment to decarbonization through the group’s Carbon neutral world initiative. Based on five fundamental pillars – one of them focused on green CO₂ – the initiative aims to help industries reduce their carbon footprint. Eduardo spoke about the potential for carbon capture and utilization (CCUS) technologies to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions in the CO₂ industry.

José Ramón Calvo, Marketing Director Europe, also participated as a speaker in a round table discussion about “Navigating the Supply Chain in Europe”. He highlighted the quality conditions required by demanding industries such as the food and beverage industries, and how Nippon Gases has been preparing for decades to provide for their customers’ needs.

Calvo explained that the factors affecting CO₂ supply include seasonality, market fluctuations, economic cycles, quality requirements and unpredictable situations. To maintain a reliable supply chain, Nippon Gases – which has been transporting LCO₂ for more than three decades – operates twelve LCO₂ production plants in six European countries, eight LCO₂ terminals, and three LCO2 ships. “All the decisions that happen are enabling the future of a sustainable LCO₂ supply chain,” he added.

Always keeping the sustainable approach, the company strives to “making a better future through gas technology” while providing high-quality CO₂. Nippon Gases’ participation in the Europe CO₂ Summit 2023 showcased the key role CO₂can play in enabling a carbon neutral world.