Holcim has partnered with carbon mineralisation specialist 44.01 to launch a pilot project in the United Arab Emirates that targets one of the most emissions-intensive industrial processes in the global economy: cement production. The initiative focuses on capturing carbon dioxide directly from a cement plant and permanently storing it underground through accelerated mineralisation, marking a potential breakthrough for hard-to-abate sectors.

Cement remains a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, yet it is also among the most challenging industries to decarbonise. Roughly eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions are linked to cement manufacturing, driven both by the energy required to heat kilns and by the chemical process of converting limestone into clinker. Each tonne of cement produced releases close to a tonne of CO2, leaving limited pathways for deep emissions reductions without carbon capture and storage.

The pilot project applies 44.01’s mineralisation technology to CO2 captured directly from cement production. Founded in Oman in 2020, 44.01 has developed a process that accelerates a natural geological reaction in which carbon dioxide is converted into stable carbonate rock. Instead of storing CO2 as a gas, the approach locks carbon away in solid form, eliminating the risk of future leakage. Captured CO2 is dissolved in water to create a reactive solution that mobilises minerals in surrounding rock formations. When injected deep underground under high pressure and temperature, the CO2 reacts rapidly with naturally occurring cations and mineralises into solid rock. The result is permanent storage measured on geological timescales rather than decades. The Fujairah-based pilot will capture around five tonnes of CO2 per day from Holcim’s cement operations before injecting it into nearby rock formations. According to the companies, this is the first project globally to combine cement-derived CO2 with in-situ mineralisation at an industrial production site, rather than relying on external storage facilities.

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The project brings together industrial operators, technology developers and public authorities. It is supported by the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation and implemented alongside NT Energies, which is deploying Shell’s CANSOLV carbon capture technology at the plant. This integration is designed to test the full chain from capture to permanent storage in real operating conditions. Ali Said, CEO of Holcim in the UAE and Oman, described the pilot as a practical step toward decarbonising one of the company’s most emissions-intensive assets. He noted that collaboration with 44.01 demonstrates how industrial innovation can translate net zero ambitions into on-the-ground solutions, particularly in regions with suitable geology for mineral storage. For Holcim, the initiative aligns with its NextGen Growth 2030 strategy, which prioritises scaling low-carbon construction technologies, as well as with the UAE’s national Net Zero 2050 pathway. Cement producers globally are under increasing pressure from regulators, investors and customers to address process emissions that cannot be eliminated through efficiency or fuel switching alone.

For 44.01, the collaboration represents a significant milestone. The Holcim pilot is the company’s first partnership with a large industrial customer and a European multinational, moving its technology beyond early-stage demonstrations into heavy industry. The company sees cement, steel and other process-driven sectors as critical test cases for mineralisation-based carbon removal. Talal Hasan, CEO of 44.01, said the project illustrates how industrial players can take a leading role in permanent carbon removal rather than relying solely on offsets or avoided emissions. By embedding mineralisation directly into production sites, the approach offers a pathway that could be replicated across global cement markets where suitable rock formations exist.

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The UAE pilot highlights the role that regional cooperation and geology-specific solutions could play in scaling carbon removal. The Middle East’s subsurface conditions are well suited to mineral storage, positioning the region as a potential hub for permanent carbon sequestration technologies as industrial decarbonisation accelerates. While the project remains at pilot scale, its significance lies in demonstrating technical feasibility at an operating cement plant. If successful, it could help unlock new decarbonisation pathways for an industry responsible for billions of tonnes of emissions each year, offering a model that extends well beyond the UAE.

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