Support for the development of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) projects in Croatia

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 21894

Status Approved

Location

Croatia

Business Sector

Energy

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

22 Jul 2025

Project Description

TCRS 21894

Status Approved

Location

Croatia

Business Sector

Energy

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

22 Jul 2025

Project Description

Croatia is committed to the EU’s climate targets, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050 and a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). These legally binding targets are enshrined in the European Climate Law. The Commission Communication on the EU’s climate target for 2040 highlighted the need for 450 million tonnes of CO2 per year to be captured and stored or utilised by 2050. The EU’s policies include strengthening incentives for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) through the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and supporting the development of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure as part of the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. Furthermore, the Directive on the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide provides a regulatory framework for the storage of CO2. The EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy outlines the role of CCUS in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, setting targets for CO₂ capture and storage infrastructure. The Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) aims to accelerate CCUS deployment by streamlining permitting, supporting CO₂ transport networks, and ensuring a strategic approach to CO₂ storage development. Together, these initiatives position CCUS as a key tool for reducing industrial emissions and enhancing the EU’s green competitiveness.

Croatia’s updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 recognizes the importance of CCUS in reducing industrial emissions, particularly for cement, steel, and hydrogen production. However, despite its potential, the deployment of CCUS in Croatia remains at an early stage due to the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework. The lack of clear permitting procedures, regulatory guidelines, and incentive mechanisms poses a major barrier to investment in CCUS infrastructure. Additionally, Croatia has yet to establish a national strategy for CO₂ transport and storage, which is essential for the scaling up of CCUS projects.

Croatia's Low Carbon Development Strategy Document envisions CO₂ storage projects starting by 2030 and scaling up by 2050, requires the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory and legal framework governing the full lifecycle of CCUS projects. This includes defining site selection criteria, permitting processes, liability provisions, and financial incentives for CO₂ capture, transport, and storage infrastructure. Without such a framework, Croatia risks falling behind in the deployment of CCUS technologies and missing its emissions reduction commitments.

As a result, the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (Agencija za ugljikovodike) (“Agency” or “CHA”) and the Croatian Ministry of Economy (Ministarstvo gospodarstva) (“Ministry”) have requested EBRD’s support to improve the policy framework for CCUS through the Technical Support Instrument of SG REFORM. This Project will pave the way for CCUS development.

The general objective of this Project is to support Croatia in designing a comprehensive policy framework and mapping of suitable sites for CCUS project, which could encourage investment in CCUS.
The key objectives of this Project are to:
• Review and conduct a gap analysis of the existing policy framework for CCUS;
• Provide recommendations for the CCUS development, considering technical, economic and environmental and social (E&S) considerations. This will include an interactive map of Croatia identifying optimal sites for CO₂ storage, existing and potential pipeline routes, locations of CO₂ emitters and users;
• Prepare a Roadmap for CCUS development in Croatia with a step-by-step action plan for the development of CO₂ management potential in Croatia.

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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Support for the development of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) projects in Croatia

Project Description

Project Description

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)