Two major European energy infrastructure companies, GRTgaz and Fluxys have announced plans to jointly develop a 150-kilometer open-access hydrogen pipeline network connecting France and Belgium.

The proposed pipeline would link the ports of Dunkirk in France to Ghent and Antwerp in Belgium, providing a crucial infrastructure to deliver low-carbon hydrogen to industries such as steel, refining, and chemicals.

GRTgaz has been working on a hydrogen pipeline project at the Port of Dunkirk, known as DHUNE, with the aim of transporting hydrogen by 2026, while Fluxys, has also been investing in hydrogen infrastructure in Belgium.

In response to increasing market demand for hydrogen, the two companies have decided to collaborate on a shared cross-border pipeline. This joint venture will ensure greater flexibility and supply diversity for industries seeking to connect to the hydrogen network.

“This new collaboration with GRTgaz…aims to create a cross-border network between Belgium and France, and is fully in line with our global approach to contributing to the construction of key infrastructure for the decarbonisation of northwest Europe,” said Pascal De Buck, CEO and Managing Director of Fluxys.

“Together, we are convinced that the future of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen relies on the availability of infrastructures capable of transporting and storing large quantities of hydrogen,” said Sandrine Meunier, CEO of GRTgaz, adding that the pipelines will connect production sites to consumption areas nationally and across Europe. 

The proposed pipeline is expected to play a significant role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.