44.01, an Omani carbon mineralisation company, has launched the Middle East’s first pilot project to mineralise carbon dioxide from a cement plant, in partnership with Holcim in Al Fujairah, UAE. The initiative aims to capture five tonnes of CO₂ per day from cement production and permanently store it underground through in-situ mineralisation, a natural process that locks CO₂ in underground rock formations.
According to 44.01, the project builds on technology originally developed in Oman, showcasing a scalable solution for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries like cement. “This is our first agreement to store emissions from the cement sector, a major step towards bringing our home-grown solution to global markets,” a company spokesperson said.
Collaborative Approach
The pilot is being implemented in collaboration with NT Energies—a joint venture between Technip Energies and NMDC Energy—utilising Shell CANSOLV carbon capture solutions through the alliance between Shell Catalysts & Technologies and Technip Energies.
Leadership Perspectives
Talal Hasan, CEO of 44.01, highlighted the importance of industrial partnerships: “This project demonstrates how companies can lead in permanent carbon removal. Working with Holcim, FNRC, and NT Energies, we are creating a practical, scalable pathway to decarbonisation that can be replicated worldwide.”
Ali Said, CEO of Holcim in the UAE and Oman, emphasized the project’s role in driving innovation-driven decarbonisation: “This pilot is another example of how collaboration can accelerate progress towards net-zero. Our partnership with 44.01 reinforces our shared commitment to sustainable solutions and demonstrates what’s possible when industry leaders work together.”
Benoit Verdier, CEO of NT Energies, added: “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Middle East. We are proud to work with 44.01 and Holcim to implement a carbon capture pilot in a sector that is traditionally hard to decarbonise.”
Next Steps and Oman Expansion
44.01 confirmed that its Oman mineralisation programme is progressing through active collaboration with local ministries and authorities, with operations set to begin in 2026. The company is also exploring additional Oman-based projects to expand its carbon capture and mineralisation footprint.
This pioneering project demonstrates how innovative carbon capture and mineralisation technologies can play a critical role in reducing emissions in the cement industry, offering a scalable solution for global decarbonisation.