Luxembourg’s government council has approved the first phase of the Hy4Link hydrogen pipeline, launching a major cross-border infrastructure project designed to connect the nation’s industrial core to broader European supply networks.
The government council gave its initial approval on October 28 for the project’s opening phase: a 40-kilometer (25-mile) pipeline stretch linking Thionville in northeastern France to Pétange in southern Luxembourg.
The pipeline is part of the European Hydrogen Backbone, a continent-wide initiative aimed at building a unified hydrogen transport network.
The Hy4Link project is being developed jointly by Creos Luxembourg Hydrogen and NaTran, the French network operator formerly known as GRTgaz.
While the decision marks a critical policy milestone, construction cannot begin immediately.
Route alignments remain under review, and required environmental assessments and formal authorization procedures must be finalized first.
Once operational, Hy4Link will transport both renewable and low-carbon hydrogen to industrial users across the Greater Region.
The pipeline is designed to link local manufacturers directly to North Sea supply hubs and major import terminals in Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, and Dunkirk.
It will also interconnect with mosaHYc, a cross-border hydrogen network linking France and Germany.
A planned second phase extends the network roughly 80 kilometers across Luxembourg, from Bras on the Belgian border to Frisange on the French border.
For the Belgian connection, Creos is partnering with Fluxys Hydrogen to integrate into the Belgian Hydrogen Backbone.
In December 2025, Hy4Link earned official EU Project of Common Interest status, granting it streamlined permitting procedures and eligibility for European Union infrastructure grants.
Creos Luxembourg Hydrogen, which has served as the national hydrogen transmission operator since Dec. 1, 2025, targets commissioning the first phase of the pipeline in 2032, with the second phase following in 2034.
However, the government’s Oct. 28 approval notice did not disclose an estimated cost or a detailed construction timeline for the initial Thionville–Pétange section.
