Adnoc starts new rock-based carbon capture project: The UAE’s Adnoc has launched the world’s first project to sequester CO2 into a carbonate saline aquifer — basically rocks — and will begin capturing and storing the CO2 in 2Q 2023, according to a Wam statement. The project is initially targeting a minimum of 18k tons per year sourced from Fertiglobe’s UAE operations, it adds. Adnoc holds a 36% stake in Fertiglobe, which is MENA’s largest nitrogen fertilizer and ammonia producer.

Enterprise, what does sequestering CO2 in a carbonate saline aquifer mean? Put simply, what we’re talking about is capturing CO2 and then injecting it into rocks — literally putting the carbon back deep in the ground. Saline aquifers are “porous and permeable reservoir rocks that contain saline fluid in the pore spaces between the rock grains.” Injecting the CO2 into this saline fluid is one of three ways (pdf) in which captured carbon can be trapped in geological formations.

This project will ultimately contribute to Fertiglobe’s production of lower-carbon ammonia, the Wam statement notes. Fertiglobe has already produced and shipped several pilot cargoes of low-carbon ammonia to Asia and Europe.

This is the latest addition to Adnoc’s recent decarbonization push: Adnoc is allocating some USD 15 bn to a raft of projects to decarbonize its operations, the Wam statement notes. Multiple new agreements were signed at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week last week — including a partnership with Thyssenkrupp for large-scale ammonia cracking and a partnership with Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, renewables developer Masdar, and Omani carbon removal and mineralization firm 44.01 to pilot technology that will permanently mineralize CO2 in rock formations in Fujairah.

CORRECTION- 23 January, 2023

This story was amended to correct Adnoc’s ownership stake in Fertiglobe, which is 36% and not 42% as we had originally reported. It was also amended to reflect that Fertiglobe has produced and shipped pilot cargoes of low-carbon ammonia, and has not yet begun commercial production.