DKHARBO project

Last update: 27 January 2026

DKHARBO aims to develop an open infrastructure with non-discriminatory access for the transport and export of CO2 in the industrial port area of Dunkirk.

DKHARBO: an essential project for industrial decarbonisation

This project is essential to meet manufacturers' need to transport CO2 captured from their processes, mainly to permanent geological storage sites, but also to plants where the CO2 can be recovered.

A call for expressions of interest in the Dunkirk area revealed a need to transport of 3 to 4 million tonnes of CO2 by 2032.

Supported by ADEME and several major manufacturers, the feasibility of the project has been studied in 2023 and 2024.

The project involves designing, building and operating a pipeline network of around 30 km in the industrial port area of Dunkirk, operating at a maximum pressure of 35 bar. The project also includes compression facilities to link the network to the offshore pipeline developed by Equinor. Thanks to this interface with Equinor's CO2 Highway Europe project, DKHARBO offers French carbon-intensive industries large-scale, reliable and competitive access to permanent CO2 storage capacity.

In the first phase, the project will focus on the industrial port of Dunkirk, which accounts for around 20% of French industrial emissions. 
The network and compressor station can then be extended to connect other CO2-emitting industrial basins, such as those in the Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Normandy and Ile-de-France regions.

This extension is the subject of call for expressions of interest in the market (AMI) launched on 16 December 2025.

Strategic partnership with Equinor

NaTran has established a strategic partnership with Equinor, a key player in the storage and transport of offshore CO2: 

  • NaTran develops the onshore CO2 transmission network and compressor station
  • Equinor develops offshore pipelines and CO2 storage facilities
North Sea CO2 transport map as part of the partnership between Natran and Equinor

>>> Map on PDF format

DKHARBO presentation brochure

  • PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT AND THE CCUS CHAIN (PDF - 603 KB )

    • A project on a European scale through Franco-Norwegian cooperation

    DKHARBO is part of the strategic partnership signed in January 2024 between France and Norway to strengthen their cooperation in green industrial transformation.  This bilateral cooperation includes carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chains.

    Support from France and the European Union

    DKHARBO is part of the EU2NSEA Project of Common Interest (PCI) and, along with the CO2 Highway Europe project, has been awarded grants by the European Union (CEF) for its contribution to decarbonising the economy and building the future European energy market. This grant supports basic engineering studies.

    This project was also funded by the State as part of France 2030 operated by ADEME for the feasibility study phase.

    Logos Ademe, République française, France 2030

    Logo UEE et mention : Cofinancé par l'Union européenne

    Project stages

    First stage:

    • February - April 2023: Call for expressions of interest
    • 2023-2024: feasibility studies for the network and compressor station
    • 2025-2027: basic engineering studies

    Next stages:

    • 2026: preliminary consultation
    • End 2027: investment decision (FID)
    • Construction: 2030 - 2032
    • Commissioning: 2031 / 2032

    Network sizing:

    • Length: approximately 30 km
    • Transport capacity: up to 4 Mt/year by 2032

    Contacts

    Pierre-Yves Le Strat, project manager
    Sylvie Antonini, communication and press relations for the project
    sylvie.antonini@natrangroupe.com