Last month, North Sea Port and the City of Ghent had the honour of hosting the Federation of Norwegian Ports. Over 100 participants from more than 70 Norwegian ports discovered Ghent as a Student City, Tech City, and of course, Port City.
During the conference, Belgian, Dutch and Norwegian partners exchanged insights on a wide range of topics:
- Geopolitics: international trade, European competitiveness, EU regulations, climate targets for 2030/2040, and port development
- Ports as energy hubs: sustainable energy, alternative fuels, transport efficiency, and CO₂ storage
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway not only share strong trade relations — Norway is North Sea Port's sixth-largest trading partner — but we also share a clear vision for the energy transition: from offshore wind and hydrogen to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). This calls for cross-border CO₂ infrastructure, green corridors, and joint action at the European level.
Projects such as CO₂ transport between Yara International and Northern Lights JV in Norway, and #H2BE, where ENGIE and Norwegian energy company Equinor are planning low-carbon hydrogen production, show that collaboration is key to success.
A boat tour through North Sea Port was the perfect way to wrap up the day.
