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ISPE Manager: Romania identifies 22 giga tonnes CO2 storage potential
Until present Romania has identified CO2 storage areas on its own territory for 22 giga tonnes, out of which the largest quantity (18 giga tonnes) in saline aquifer-type formations, Getica CCS Project Company within the Institute for Studies and Power Engineering (ISPE) Project Manager Gabriel Ignat told a specialized seminar on Thursday, July 21.
'Romania has identified 22 giga tonnes CO2 onshore storage potential, on its own territory, out of which 18 giga tonnes in saline aquifer-type formations and four tonnes in formations of the type of depleted reservoirs, that is reservoirs emptied of oil and gas. Getica CCS is the only project in the region in a quite advanced stage. The feasibility study was completed and the documents for financing have already been filed,' Ignat said.
He added that, in terms of financing opportunities for Getica CCS, a possible failure could practically lead to the 'project's freezing.'
According to Agerpres, the first project developed in Romania for the carbon capture and storage, Getica CSS, can be implemented starting in 2013, its value amounting to one billion euros, with 50 percent of this amount being financed through the European financial instrument NER300.
The feasibility study was completed for the project implementing, which was officially launched on December 1, 2010, in Brussels.
Through Getica CCS 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year are going to be captured, transported and stored. The transport will be done through an underground pipe, over a total length accounting for about 40 kilometres. The CO2 will be stored in deep aquifer saline geological formations located within a maximum 50 kilometre-range from the Turceni Thermal Power Plant.
The Getica CSS Project Company is made up of the Turceni Power Complex - the future operator of the capture installation, Romgaz Medias - the future operator of the geological storage installation and Transgaz - the future transport network operator.
The Getica CSS demonstrative project is a governmental programme, coordinated by the Economy, Trade and Business Environment Ministry (MECMA) and supported by the Global CSS Institute of Australia, which offered a 2.55 million-euro grant for the feasibility study work out.
The Getica CSS project is carried out in the southwestern region of Romania, an area considered to be the most industrialized region, accountable for 40 percent of the total CO2 emissions nationwide, that is 24.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide per year, according to the project initiators.
Getica CCS project, a priority for Romania
Getica CCS Demonstration Project on CO2 capture and storage is a priority for Romania, being also the most important program run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business MECMA said on Thursday, in a specialized seminar, Cristiana Ion, Advisor to the Minister of Economy.
'The EBRD has been mandated by the European Commission to deal with project evaluation and financing. Getica CCS is the most important project of the ministry, which is why we make every effort to carry it out till the very end ', MECMA official also said.
In early June, Tudor Serban , personal advisor of the Minister of Economy, said that the scheme to close financing for CCS Getica project will be carried out by August this year, and prioritizing this program is to continue to be an item on the Government's agenda.