The United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil company, ADNOC, has announced the launch of a significant carbon capture project, contributing to the efforts of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in the Gulf region. The project, named Habshan, aims to capture and store 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually in underground geological formations. This initiative will elevate ADNOC’s overall carbon capture capacity to 2.3 million tons per year. Currently, the Gulf country emits approximately 194 million tons of CO2 each year.
While Western nations have been advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels, Gulf countries are focusing on managing planet-warming gases through solutions like CCUS. The UAE, in particular, aims to demonstrate its commitment to tackling climate change by hosting the United Nations’ climate summit later this year in Dubai and pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. CCUS has gained momentum in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE in recent years, although there is still progress to be made in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
CCUS solutions play a crucial role in reducing emissions, especially in industries that are challenging to decarbonize. The captured CO2 can also be repurposed for various applications, such as plastics, synthetic fuels, and building materials. However, critics argue that when synthetic fuels and plastics are burned, the CO2 molecules will ultimately be released back into the atmosphere.
According to data from the International Energy Agency, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region currently has a total of 13 planned or operational CCUS projects, with a combined annual capture capacity of 20 million tons of CO2. However, this capacity only represents about 1.8% of the GCC’s annual collective emissions, which were estimated at 1.1 billion tons in 2021. It’s important to note that these figures do not account for the CO2 released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels produced in the Gulf are consumed elsewhere.
In addition to carbon capture projects, Gulf countries are exploring other methods to address emissions. For instance, mangroves are being planted as they are highly effective at sequestering CO2, and technologies such as direct air capture (DAC) are being developed. However, DAC machines consume significant amounts of energy for minimal CO2 extraction due to its low concentration in the atmosphere.
The label of CCUS solutions has sparked some controversy, as it can serve both as a tool for decarbonizing industries and as a means for fossil fuel producers to enhance oil recovery. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) allows oil companies to extract additional barrels of oil from reservoirs by injecting CO2. While CCUS can contribute to emitting more CO2 in these cases, the emissions over the life cycle of oil produced via EOR are generally lower compared to traditional oil extraction methods.
In conclusion, ADNOC’s launch of the Habshan carbon capture project is a significant step in the Gulf region’s efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. CCUS solutions, along with other carbon management strategies, play a crucial role in addressing emissions reduction challenges. However, it’s essential to ensure carbon storage is secure, monitored, and transparent to ensure its effectiveness in combating climate change.
