Holcim has partnered with carbon mineralization specialist 44.01 to launch a pilot project in the United Arab Emirates aimed at permanently storing CO2 generated during cement production.
The initiative, based in Fujairah, will capture emissions directly from a cement facility and convert them into stable rock formations underground, addressing one of the construction sector’s most persistent decarbonization challenges.
Cement manufacturing remains a major source of global emissions, responsible for roughly 8% of worldwide CO2 output. Most emissions arise not only from energy use but from the chemical process of turning limestone into clinker, making permanent capture and storage technologies particularly critical for the sector.
Demonstrating In-Situ CO2 Mineralization
Founded in Oman, 44.01 has developed a process that accelerates natural mineralization by dissolving captured CO2 in water and injecting it into suitable rock formations.
Underground conditions trigger reactions that bind the CO2 into solid minerals, effectively locking it away permanently. The Fujairah pilot will apply this approach to cement-derived CO2 for the first time at an industrial site.
Ali Said, CEO of Holcim in the UAE and Oman, said: “Our partnership with 44.01 reinforces our shared commitment to pioneering sustainable solutions and showcases what is possible when industry leaders work together to drive meaningful, scalable impact.”
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Under the project, up to five tons of CO2 per day will be captured from cement production and injected into local geology for mineralization. NT Energies will deliver the capture component using Shell’s CANSOLV technology, while the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation is supporting the project’s development and oversight.
For 44.01, the collaboration marks its first industrial deployment with a multinational partner, expanding its commercial pathway for mineralization-based carbon storage.
The partners say the project demonstrates how coordination between technology providers, industry and regional authorities can open new, durable routes for industrial carbon reduction in the Middle East.
Read more: 44.01 Secures New $5M Series A Funding For Its Carbon Mineralization Technology
