ADNOC, Oxy partner on first “megaton-scale” direct air capture facility outside of U.S.
(WO) – ADNOC and Occidental announced an agreement to undertake a joint preliminary engineering study for the construction of the first megaton-scale direct air capture (DAC) facility outside the United States.
The agreement is the first project to reach the technical feasibility stage since the two companies signed a strategic collaboration agreement, in 2023, to explore carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects in the UAE and the U.S.
The study will assess the proposed one million tonnes per annum (MMtpa) DAC facility to be connected to ADNOC’s carbon dioxide (CO2) infrastructure for injection and permanent storage into saline reservoirs not used for oil and gas production. ADNOC is in the testing phase of the world’s first full sequestered CO2 injection well in a carbonate saline aquifer in Abu Dhabi.
In August, ADNOC and Occidental signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) to evaluate potential investment opportunities in CO2 capture and storage hubs in the UAE and U.S. and to incorporate climate technologies in energy projects such as emissions-free power and sustainable fuels.
Vicki Hollub, President and CEO of Occidental, said, “The speed at which the Oxy and ADNOC teams have developed the feasibility and Pre-FEED plan for a DAC plant in Abu Dhabi underscores the urgency needed to deliver global-scale climate solutions and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. We will continue to leverage our carbon management expertise to deliver value and accelerate our ability to achieve our net-zero targets and help others meet theirs.”
Recently, as part of its carbon management strategy, ADNOC announced a final investment decision to proceed with one of the largest carbon capture projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at Habshan, with the capacity to capture up to 1.5 MMtpa for permanent storage in Abu Dhabi’s onshore reservoirs. This strategy aligns with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) view that carbon capture and storage is a critical enabler for the world to achieve net zero by mid-century.
