Industrial symbiosis could unlock Mongstad's potential as a supercluster

The report, commissioned by Invest in Bergen, illustrates how four industries can create total annual revenues estimated to NOK 15–30 billion by sharing resources and infrastructure and exchanging side-products and technologies. Additionally, development of cluster skills, supplier industries, and impacts on national value chains served by companies in the Mongstad symbiosis will create further ripple effects.

Creating sustainable value chains

Located just north of Bergen, the industrial site at Mongstad has for 50 years been recognized for its contributions to the Norwegian energy sector. Circularity is an important cornerstone of the future economy, and Mongstad Industrial Park has the potential to set an example for the rest of Norway – and the world. By integrating industries, sharing resources, and fostering innovation in areas like carbon capture, renewable energy, and materials recycling, it is possible to build a resilient and sustainable industrial hub also in a green transition.  

- Invest in Bergen is inspired by the opportunities presented for Mongstad to become a leader in circular economy initiatives. The report underlines how Mongstad’s industrial infrastructure and expertise can drive circularity by facilitating resource reuse, reducing waste, and creating sustainable value chains, says Tone Hartvedt in Invest in Bergen, adding:

- We are excited to work alongside partners who share our vision of a greener, more circular future.

The analysis has been conducted by Ole Jørgen Marvik and Jarle Skeidsvoll.  For further details on Mongstad’s development potential, please explore the full report by clicking the image.  

A vision for Mongstad's future

Mongstad’s unique attributes are at combination of existing industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and available space for new industries. The core for creating a circular sybiosis is natural gas combined with permanent CO2 storage.

Most important is the established infrastructure at the site. With an operational oil refinery, gas processing facilities, and a deep-water port, Mongstad offers a solid platform for new industrial ventures.  Further, the site includes significant unused land that could accommodate future investments in industries like renewable energy, hydrogen production, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).  

The site also has experience in CCS through the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), which is one of the world’s leading CCS facilities. Expanding this expertise could position the site as a global leader in carbon reduction technologies.  

Mongstad’s proximity to Bergen is also a feature, ensuring excellent access to talent, markets, and transport links.  

- These assets make Mongstad well-suited to become a hub for sustainable industries and new technologies, is a key conclusion in the report.

Mongstad Industrial Park Torday is one of the biggest Norwegian industrial clusters and contains a total of 4,900 decares reserved for industrial use, with 2,350 decares zoned for industrial purposes. In terms of tons over quay, it is Norway’s largest port and also one of the largest energy ports in Europe. Top-tier ISPS port facilities are handling over 3,000 ship arrivals per year. Today, around 50 companies are located in a highly competent industrial environment. More than 3000 highly skilled individuals go to work here.

Share, use and reuse

The report illustrates how industrial symbiosis could be created between very different industry sectors, by sharing resources and infrastructure and exchanging side-products and technologies.

The vision stands on solid grounds. In collaboration with existing companies, the report identifies relevant value chains and discusses which type of synergies that can be envisioned in a semi-quantitative manner:

1: Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Mongstad already has an ongoing SAF project, involving Equinor, NORCE, and Mana. The process starts with commercial waste, which is converted at high temperatures into synthesis gas. Through the synthesis gas, ethanol (or methanol) is produced as an intermediate, which is then chemically converted into aviation fuel. Hydrogen is an important reactant throughout the synthesis. Since ethanol/methanol also is an intermediate for fish feed protein production in the example below, this example provides a basis for potential business collaboration.

2: Biochar

The second example is biochar production. There is a growing need for renewable carbon in Norwegian metallurgical projects, such as silicon production (Elkem, Wacker, Finnfjord) or manganese (Eramet). In collaboration with the Polish company Polchar, The Norwegian company Carbonor plans to produce biochar using imported wood.

From a symbiosis perspective, the key point is that the pyrolysis process releases large amounts of biogenic CO2, which could either be captured and stored for carbon credits or used as a renewable raw material, for example, in production of protein used in fish feed.

3. Fish feed

Norway’s significant aquaculture industry requires large amounts of imported feed and feed ingredients. Soy protein is currently a major component. However, due to its high climate footprint and contribution to deforestation, this import is heavily criticised for its environmental impact. The Dutch/Swiss company dsm-firmenich has developed a production process that creates ethanol or methanol from CO2 and hydrogen. These intermediates are then converted through fermentation by microorganisms into a protein-rich biomass. In accordance with the examples above, primary raw materials (CO2 and hydrogen) and intermediates (ethanol or methanol) can be shared.

4. Direct reduction of iron (DRI)

The steel industry is responsible for 6–7 % of global CO2 emissions. To cut emissions, a key strategy is to replace fossil coal with natural gas or hydrogen in the reduction process. Currently, green hydrogen is not available in relevant quantities or at an acceptable price. This example illustrates how location Mongstad enables a stepwise transition from natural gas with carbon capture, through blue hydrogen to green hydrogen. Potential symbiosis effects also include resource sharing (synthesis gas from waste, example 1) and biochar use (example 2). A possible benefit of a reduction plant at Mongstad is that the Syd-Varanger mine, now owned by Swedish company Grangex, could have a national customer. Syd-Varanger is one of the few mines in Europe with iron ore quality (magnetite) suitable for the DRI process.

Need new partners

An important finding is that the visionary industry examples all depend on international technologies. Achieving Mongstad’s full potential will require close collaboration between government, industry stakeholders, and local communities. The report calls for targeted investments in infrastructure upgrades, policy frameworks to support green energy projects, and incentives to attract both domestic and international businesses.  

This underscores the importance of national efforts to attract international businesses. As a key economic development agency in Vestland, Invest in Bergen is excited about the immense potential Mongstad offers as a hub for sustainable growth and innovation.

- Invest in Bergen is committed to supporting this transition by bringing together stakeholders, securing investments, and promoting Mongstad as a prime location for circular projects. This is more than just an opportunity for regional growth; it’s a chance to redefine how industries collaborate and operate sustainably, says Tone Hartvedt.

Collection of the first oil from all the oil fields that has delivered their crude oil to Mongstad and has created great value. Could industrial symbiosis be a new future for the grand industrial site? Photo: Charlotte Hartvigsen Lem. 

Together towards a greener future

As the world moves towards a low-carbon future, Mongstad stands out as a prime location for industries driving this transition. By building on its existing strengths and embracing new opportunities, Mongstad could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Vestland County and beyond.  This vision underscores the importance of collaboration, investment, and innovation in securing a sustainable and prosperous future for the region.  

At Invest in Bergen, we are committed to supporting initiatives that will unlock Mongstad's full potential and strengthen our region's position on the global stage. By building on the foundation of expertise already present at Mongstad, we can pave the way for a future that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility.

More technical details on our fact sheet here. 

Can your company contribute in this vision? Don’t hesitate to contact any of our advisors to explore possibilities for collaboration.