£200m Viking Pipeline project approved for CO₂ capture on Lincolnshire coast

The Government has green-lit the £200m Viking onshore pipeline project, clearing the way for the construction of carbon capture infrastructure on the Lincolnshire coast.

The project will involve a 55km underground pipeline running from the point of receipt of dense-phase CO₂ at Immingham to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal.

From there, the captured CO₂ will be transported offshore to the Viking gas fields in the North Sea for permanent storage.

Led by Harbour Energy and supported by BP, the Viking CCS Pipeline is part of a larger CCS initiative that’s expected to unlock £7bn in investment across the Humber region by 2035.

The project is forecast to create 10,000 jobs during construction and generate £4bn in economic value by the end of the decade.

The pipeline will include key infrastructure such as valves, inspection systems, venting and handling facilities, as well as temporary construction compounds, storage areas, and access roads.

Planning consent followed a six-month examination by the Planning Inspectorate, which allowed local residents, councils, and statutory consultees to provide feedback.

After considering all views and evidence, the Planning Inspectorate recommended approval to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who granted final consent.

The Viking fields are expected to store up to 300m tonnes of CO₂, with the system set to handle up to 10m tonnes per year by 2030.