The VAIA (Vicat Advanced Industrial Alliance) project has been awarded a GPID grant by the French government. This recognition follows on from the public support obtained after the project was selected by the European Innovation Fund programme in November 2025.

This new grant marks a key milestone in the development of the VAIA project. Studies are ongoing and the final investment decision is scheduled for 2027. The VAIA project aims to capture and store 1.2 million tpy of CO

at the Montalieu-Vercieu cement plant, the largest in France. It also enables the creation of a unique value chain, serving as the initial anchor point in the Rhône Valley for a complete sector covering the capture, transport, use, and liquefaction of CO

 for storage.

The GPID grant is part of the French government's Major Investment Plans to accelerate the country's ecological and industrial transition. This programme aims to support innovative and structuring projects, particularly those that contribute to the decarbonisation of industry, the modernisation of infrastructure, and the competitiveness of strategic sectors.

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