During the Eurogas Tech Conference in Brussels in November 2024, the CEO of Holcim Bulgaria Rossen Papazov presented the Eastern Lights project to an audience of EU policymakers, industry and research institution representatives.
The conference titled “Decarbonisation in Action: The Potential of Bioenergy and Hydrogen for CCS” focused on the EU’s leadership in BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) and CCS/CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) in the context of the EU’s 2040 climate targets.
Over 100 people discussed the potential, challenges, and synergies between hydrogen and carbon capture technologies to accelerate decarbonisation. The event featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, highlighting innovative projects and regulatory developments in the sector. Mr. Papazov presented the Eastern Lights project, which aims to develop the largest onshore carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) cluster in Northwest Bulgaria. He shared that the project will contribute to decarbonising the construction industry by providing a storage solution for landlocked industrial plants. Eastern Lights is in the process of identifying suitable underground storage sites while also addressing regulatory challenges and cross-border CO2 transportation. The initiative is a crucial first step toward a large-scale CCUS supply chain in Eastern Europe.
