Riyadh, October 11, 2023, The Global CCS Institute has warmly welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by its Ministry of Energy, as its latest member. This significant step reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to addressing the climate challenge by collaborating with international experts and embracing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. In line with its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, Saudi Arabia is determined to diversify its strategies for reducing carbon emissions, with CCS playing a pivotal role. The Global CCS Institute is eager to cooperate with the Saudi government, providing its specialized knowledge to expedite the adoption of CCS technology.
The Minister of Energy, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, emphasized the importance of CCS in facilitating a transition to low-emission practices across industries, especially in sectors with complex emissions reduction challenges. Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans include the development of one of the world's largest CCS hubs, which aims to mitigate 44 million tonnes of CO2 annually in Jubail by 2035. HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed the need for strategic partnerships and specific regional expertise to drive such climate projects. Membership in the Global CCS Institute is seen as a significant step in this direction.
Saudi Arabia is in the process of establishing large-scale projects with the capacity to capture and store millions of tonnes of CO2 from industrial processes. This positions the country as a potential leader in CCS within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The CEO of the Global CCS Institute, Jarad Daniels, expressed anticipation in actively participating in Saudi Arabia's transition from CCS ambition to concrete action.
The Global CCS Institute boasts a diverse membership of over 200 organizations spanning 33 countries, including 13 government members. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy, which is spearheading the nation's CCS initiatives, will collaborate closely with the Institute to enhance CCS capabilities.
While there are over 250 CCS facilities worldwide in various stages of development, this number needs to increase significantly, potentially by 100-fold, to meet international climate targets by mid-century. Saudi Arabia's geological storage potential makes it a prime candidate for CCS implementation and industrial decarbonization efforts.
