UK and Eni to Approve CO₂ Pipeline Linking Liverpool and Manchester

The British government, in partnership with Italian energy firm Eni, will give approval for a 38-mile pipeline intended to carry carbon dioxide from industrial facilities in Liverpool and Manchester to offshore storage facilities, the Financial Times reported. The announcement is likely to be made during the current energy security summit in London.

The pipeline will be a central part of the UK's drive to decarbonise heavy industry. It will facilitate carbon capture at scale, linking two large industrial clusters to permanent storage under the North Sea.

A Long-Term Commitment to Carbon Capture

The project is part of the UK's broader strategy to build carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure in the nation. In 2023, the government pledged up to £21.7 billion over 25 years to support CCS projects. The funding will assist in keeping industrial emissions in check, drive regional economies, and assist in achieving the country's legally binding target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

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Eni, however, has expanded its low-carbon activities. In February, it unveiled a strategic realignment that included establishing a new entity focused on CCS and power offerings to high-demand markets like data centres.

Northern England as a Focal Point

Using this new pipeline, the UK hopes to make northern England a CCS pioneer. The project will aim to reduce the environmental footprint while facilitating industrial expansion through the capture of emissions at their point of origin and obtaining long-term storage arrangements.

Upon being formally approved, the pipeline would be a turning point in the UK's movement towards a low-carbon economy, connecting climate ambitions with action at an infrastructure scale.