Holcim Invests in 44.01 to Scale Carbon Mineralisation Technology

Swiss building materials company Holcim has invested in carbon storage technology developer 44.01 to support the commercial expansion of its mineralisation technology. Announced on 4 November 2026, the investment builds on an existing partnership between the companies, including a carbon capture and storage pilot operating at Holcim's Fujairah cement plant in the United Arab Emirates since July 2026. The companies did not disclose the investment's financial value.

44.01's technology involves injecting captured carbon dioxide into naturally reactive ultramafic rock formations, where it undergoes mineralisation and becomes stable carbonate minerals. This process offers a permanent underground storage pathway for industrial CO2 emissions, particularly in locations with suitable geological formations. At the Fujairah facility, the pilot is designed to capture approximately 4 to 4.5 tonnes of CO2 per day from cement production, with the captured gas transported to a nearby mineralisation site for underground storage.

 

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The investment will support 44.01's international expansion and efforts to scale its technology for industrial applications. For Holcim, the approach could provide an alternative carbon storage solution for cement plants located inland or far from conventional offshore storage infrastructure. Wider deployment will depend on suitable geological conditions, operational performance, and the availability of supporting carbon capture infrastructure.

Ram Muthu, Head of Operational Excellence at Holcim, said, "This pathway can help us manage captured carbon at inland sites across our operations where access to offshore storage may be limited." He added that the investment builds on the companies' existing UAE project and supports Holcim's NextGen Growth 2030 decarbonisation strategy.

The investment forms part of Holcim's wider technology portfolio, developed through its corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, Holcim MAQER Ventures, which has completed 22 investments to date. Other investors in 44.01 include JERA, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Equinor Ventures, Air Liquide Venture Capital and Siemens Financial Services. The partnership will focus on expanding mineralisation-based carbon storage as a potential decarbonisation pathway for cement production and other emissions-intensive industries.

 

Source: Holcim