Through the planned construction of a new thermal oxidation facility for nitrous oxide (laughing gas), AnQore aims to reduce its annual CO₂-equivalent emissions by 365 kton by 2029, nearly a 70% reduction compared to 2020. In addition, the project will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 50%, natural gas usage by 25%, and water consumption by 17%. Assuming AnQore reaches a binding tailor-made agreement and sufficient financial support is confirmed, this major sustainability investment can be realised 11 years earlier than would otherwise be feasible thanks to government support.
“This agreement underlines our ambition to reduce CO₂ emissions at scale, enabling AnQore to supply its customers with building blocks that have the lowest product carbon footprint in the world” said Sjoerd Zuidema, CEO of AnQore. “Together with the Dutch government and Province of Limburg, we are taking an important step towards climate neutrality, in line with our responsibility to make the chemical industry more sustainable.”
The JLoI also includes commitments by the State to work towards incorporating nitrous oxide emissions from acrylonitrile production into the EU ETS, enabling AnQore to use emission rights that will support financing of this €120 million investment. The Dutch Climate Fund has reserved up to €46 million in additional financial support, keeping the societal cost per avoided tonne of CO₂ well below €15.
Tailor-made agreements are not only essential from a climate perspective, they are also crucial to support the industry in today's exceptionally challenging and worrying market conditions. With a very limited capacity for sustainability investments, meaningful change can only be accelerated through close cooperation between government and industry. This joint JLoI marks an important step forward in realizing a shared ambition: to reduce emissions at scale, secure industrial competitiveness and build a sustainable future together.
A final investment decision is expected later this year, pending key regulatory developments including the EU ETS inclusion decision anticipated after the summer and more clarity around financial support.
About AnQore
AnQore is one of Europe’s leading producers of acrylonitrile, a crucial building block for products such as carbon fibre, nitrile gloves and ABS plastics used in items like wind turbine blades, aircraft parts and LEGO bricks. Located in Geleen, AnQore is committed to the safe, secure and sustainable supply of chemical products that are essential for modern life.
➡️ For more information about AnQore’s sustainability strategy, visit Sustainability