Occidental and ADNOC Collaborate on Feasibility Study for Direct Air Capture Facility in the UAE

Occidental, a leading international energy company, and its subsidiary 1PointFive have joined forces with ADNOC to conduct a preliminary engineering study for a groundbreaking Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in their efforts to explore carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects in both the UAE and the United States.

The Joint Study Agreement, signed during the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi, aims to assess the feasibility of constructing a megaton-scale DAC facility outside the United States. The facility will employ the same carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction technology used in the Stratos plant being built by 1PointFive in Texas. The Stratos facility, designed to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, is set to become operational soon.

1PointFive, known for its focus on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits, has recently secured agreements with major companies like Amazon and All Nippon Airways to help them achieve their net-zero targets. These agreements involve sequestering DAC-captured CO2 in saline reservoirs, ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.

If approved, the DAC facility in the UAE will be connected to ADNOC’s existing CO2 infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, enabling the captured CO2 to be injected and permanently stored in saline reservoirs not used for oil and gas production. ADNOC is already in the testing phase of the world’s first fully sequestered CO2 injection well in Abu Dhabi, further demonstrating their commitment to decarbonization.

Vicki Hollub, Occidental’s President and CEO, expressed her enthusiasm for the agreement, emphasizing the urgency required to deliver global-scale climate solutions. She highlighted Occidental’s dedication to leveraging their carbon management expertise to achieve net-zero targets and assist others in meeting theirs.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth at ADNOC, echoed Hollub’s sentiments, emphasizing the positive momentum in their partnership with Occidental. He stated that this joint investment in a megaton-scale DAC facility exemplifies ADNOC’s commitment to leveraging partnerships and innovative technology to accelerate their decarbonization journey.

The collaboration between Occidental, 1PointFive, and ADNOC is enabled by the UAE-U.S. Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which aims to mobilize $100 billion in clean energy and carbon management projects by 2035.

This groundbreaking initiative showcases the commitment of these industry leaders to combat climate change and develop sustainable solutions for a lower-carbon world. By exploring and implementing advanced carbon capture technologies, Occidental, 1PointFive, and ADNOC are setting a positive example for the energy sector and contributing to global efforts to address climate change.