DESFA-Energean Project Gains Momentum for CO2 Transport and Storage

The large-scale CO2 transport and storage project presented earlier this month by EnEarth (Energean) and DESFA to the European Union aims to store significant quantities of carbon dioxide from Greece and abroad in the depleted Prinos reservoir. This ambitious initiative, known as the Prinos-APOLLOCO2 project, will be implemented for the first time in Greece, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to national and European climate goals. The two Greek groups have submitted their proposal to be included in the new list of projects of common interest (PCI-PMI), expected to be published soon. The aim is to support the European effort to create a Mediterranean-wide network for CO2 transportation. With a budget of €2.17 billion, €843 million will cover transportation and liquefaction, while €1.3 billion will go towards underground storage. Under APOLLOCO2, CO2 will be transported via pipelines from industries in Attica and Boeotia to a central liquefaction unit in Revythoussa, then exported by ships. Initially covering 200 km with an annual capacity of 5 million tons, it can later expand to 10 million tons. Operations are targeted to begin in 2029. Meanwhile, EnEarth’s Prinos storage facility will initially accommodate 1 million tons from 2026 using compressed CO2 transport trucks, scaling up to 3 million tons by 2029 when liquefied quantities will be accepted via ships. Market interest has been strong, with seven preliminary agreements signed under APOLLOCO2, representing double the quantities, and 12 initial agreements surpassing available capacity for the Prinos site from clients in Greece, Italy, and Croatia. A preliminary market test is expected this year, followed by binding phases and final contracts by early 2026.