EU backs Heidelberg Materials’ pioneering CCUS project in Bulgaria

• The official signing ceremony of the EU Innovation Fund Grant Agreement took place yesterday as part of the European Commission’s “Financing Innovative Clean Tech” conference
• The Innovation Fund will provide a total of around 190 million euros in financing to Heidelberg Materials and partner PetroCeltic to realise the project 
• ANRAV in Bulgaria aims to be the first full-chain CCUS project in Eastern Europe, with a capture capacity of about 800,000 t CO₂ per year starting from 2028

Yesterday, the EU Innovation Fund Grant Agreement for Heidelberg Materials’ pioneering CCUS project ANRAV was officially signed in Brussels. ANRAV aims to be the first full-chain CCUS project in Eastern Europe, eventually covering all steps from CO₂ capture, transport and geological CO₂ storage to CO₂ reuse. The EU Innovation Fund, one of the world’s largest funding programmes for innovative low-carbon technologies, will support Heidelberg Materials and PetroCeltic with around €190 million, complementing substantial contributions by both partners.

“Driving aspirational CCUS projects across Heidelberg Materials and the geographies we are represented in is an essential part of our climate strategy. And this large-scale solution in Eastern Europe is the next step in our ambitious and promising journey”, said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board. “Co-financing and regulatory support are important enablers for scaling CCUS technology in our sector. The successful Grant Agreement is testament to the strength of the technology and our partnerships."

ANRAV will link carbon capture facilities at the Bulgarian cement plant of Heidelberg Materials’ subsidiary Devnya Cement through a pipeline system with offshore permanent storage, developed and to be operated by the partner PetroCeltic, under the Black Sea. The project is expected to be operational as early as 2028 and will have a capture capacity of about 800,000 t CO₂ per year. "Devnya will be the first carbon-neutral cement plant in the country and the region," says Ernest Jelito, Member of the Managing Board responsible for the Group area Northern and Eastern Europe-Central Asia: "ANRAV will also enable other industrial players to join the carbon chain in the future and share storage capacity. In this way, we want to not only decarbonize our company in Bulgaria, but also provide opportunities for the whole region".

To gain experience with a wide range of carbon capture technologies and advance them to maturity, Heidelberg Materials is pursuing a gradual investment approach based on research cooperation with other partners. With the CCUS projects already launched, the company will save 10 million tonnes of CO₂ cumulatively by 2030.

About Heidelberg Materials

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. We are represented in over 50 countries with more than 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 sites. At the centre of our actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As the front runner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, we are working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for our customers through digitalisation.