UAE national oil company ADNOC is increasing its carbon capture goals in an effort to achieve a net-zero target and enhance its eco-friendly image ahead of the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP28) climate summit.
ADNOC has announced an ambitious goal to capture 10 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2030, which marks a significant increase from its previous goal of 5 million tons. This move is part of the company’s overall strategy to achieve net zero emissions from its own operations by 2045.
With the United Arab Emirates hosting the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in November 2023, ADNOC’s announcement signals the country’s commitment to addressing the global climate crisis and finding sustainable solutions.
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As one of the largest producers in OPEC, the UAE has been under scrutiny for its plans to increase oil production capacity in the coming years. Despite the doubled carbon capture target, ADNOC, the UAE ‘s largest oil producing company, will only be able to mitigate a fraction of its emissions, as it produces 24 million tons of CO2 annually from its own upstream operations.
ADNOC recently unveiled its second carbon capture project, which aims to remove gas from the atmosphere at the Habshan natural gas processing facility. Once completed, this project will increase ADNOC’s carbon capture capacity to 2.3 million tons per year. The company is also working on a smaller initiative to capture carbon emissions from a steel plant and inject them into an oil field.
While reducing emissions is commendable, critics argue that more needs to be done to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy sources. The success of ADNOC’s carbon capture initiative will be closely watched as the world seeks effective solutions to combat climate change.
