Japan's Inpex is planning a pilot project to store captured CO2 under the seabed near Tokyo, aiming to support the production of green steel. The test will evaluate the feasibility of offshore carbon storage as a way to reduce emissions from the steel industry, which is a major source of industrial CO2. The project is part of a broader push in Japan to decarbonize heavy industry. If successful, it could provide a template for using carbon capture and storage to lower the carbon footprint of steelmaking without shutting down existing plants. The location near Tokyo allows for easier access to industrial CO2 sources. Key questions remain about the cost of the technology and the long-term safety of undersea storage. The pilot will need to demonstrate that CO2 can be stored securely for decades without leakage. This is an early but important step for Japan's industrial decarbonization strategy.
