Adnoc indicators partnership to mineralise the greenhouse fuel and ensure it doesn’t escape again into the air

Photo: Reuters file

Adnoc at this time introduced a partnership with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation (FNRC), Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and 44.01 to pilot expertise that completely mineralises carbon dioxide inside rock formations discovered within the Emirate of Fujairah.

The announcement was made on the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

The venture, because of start in January 2023, will use 44.01’s Earthshot prize-winning Carbon Capture and Mineralisation (CCM) expertise to remove carbon dioxide from the environment. It would be the first CCM venture by an vitality firm within the Middle East.

Sophie Hildebrand, Chief Technology Officer at Adnoc, stated, “Across Adnoc, we are committed to finding new ways to decarbonise our operations, while meeting our responsibility to supply vital energy to the world. 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 has been chosen for this pilot for to its abundance of peridotite, a type of rock that naturally reacts with carbon dioxide to mineralise it.

Muhammad Saif Al Afkham, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, stated, “We are proud to support Adnoc and our other partners to catalyse this natural process with 44.01’s technology. Success here could pave the way to help us make a significant contribution towards the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.”

In this pilot, carbon dioxide will likely be captured from the air, dissolved in seawater, after which injected into peridotite formations deep underground, the place it is going to mineralise – guaranteeing that it can’t escape again into the environment.

Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01, said, “Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is vital if we are to halt and ultimately reverse climate change. Unlike carbon dioxide storage, mineralisation removes the gas permanently by turning it into rock, minimising 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 carbon dioxide internationally.”

The venture will likely be powered by photo voltaic vitality equipped by Masdar. A profitable pilot would open the potential for mineralising billions of tons of captured carbon dioxide throughout the area.

ALSO READ: