ADNOC to be first energy company in Middle East to mineralize CO2 into rocks
UAE energy company will mineralise Co2 within rocks in Fujairah
Dubai: ADNOC is out to place CO2 within rock formations – and the UAE energy giant will do that in Fujairah from this month on. The company will use a ‘prize-winning’ carbon capture and mineralisation technology from 44.01 to eliminate C02 from the atmosphere.
This is the first such venture by any energy company in the Middle East. ADNOC’s partners apart from 44.01 include the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation (FNRC), Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar).
The CO2 in a rock project will be powered using solar energy supplied by Masdar. A successful pilot would open the 'possibility of mineralizing billions of tons of captured CO2 across the region', ADNOC said in a statement
In this pilot, CO2 will be captured from the air, dissolved in seawater, and then injected into peridotite formations deep underground, where it will mineralize – ensuring that it cannot escape back into the atmosphere.
“We are committed to finding new ways to decarbonize our operations, while meeting our responsibility to supply vital energy to the world,” said Sophie Hildebrand, Chief Technology Officer at ADNOC. “As the first energy company in the region to run a carbon-negative project of this kind, this pilot marks the latest step in our $15 billion investment into projects that will reduce our carbon footprint and help us achieve our Net Zero by 2050 ambition.”
Fujairah was selected for this pilot due to its abundance of peridotite, a form of rock that naturally reacts with CO2 to mineralize it.
Unlike CO2 storage, mineralization removes CO2 permanently by turning it into rock, minimizing the need for long-term monitoring and insurance. This pilot will enable us to test our technology at scale, on our way to offering a safe, cost-effective, natural solution for eliminating captured CO2 internationally.
Muhammad Saif Al Afkham, Chairman of Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, said: “Success here could pave the way to help us make a significant contribution towards the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.”