Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is expanding its first large-scale carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) programme under its strategy to significantly lower its carbon dioxide emissions intensity.

Speaking at the ICCUS Conference in Saudi Arabia, Adnoc chief executive Sultan Ahmed al Jaber said the company will grow its ambitions for its current CCUS programme over the next 10 years.

Currently, Adnoc’s Al Reyadah facility in Abu Dhabi has the capacity to capture 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Adnoc plans to expand the capacity of this programme by over 500% capturing CO2 from its own gas plants, with the aim of reaching 5 million tonnes of CO2 per annum by 2030.

Jaber said: “Adnoc's CCUS programme reinforces our position as the least-carbon intensive oil and gas producer in the world. It is also an important enabler of our holistic 2030 sustainability goals, specifically our target to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 25%.

“As we drive our CCUS targets, we are focusing on innovative and cost-effective solutions that make economic sense,” he said.

Adnoc’s CCUS programme is also enabling the company to maximise value from its hydrocarbon reserves through enhanced oil recovering (EOR), liberating the cleaner-burning natural gas to cater for growing demand, Jaber added.

Detailing how Adnoc plans to achieve its CCUS targets, Jaber said the company’s Shah gas plant has the potential to enable 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 to be captured ,while its Habshan and Bab plant could enable the capture of almost 2 million tonnes of CO2.

The boost is part of Adnoc’s recently announced broader sustainability goals that will help ensure the company produces more energy with less environmental impact Adnoc's goals include a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 25% and a limit on freshwater use to below 0.5% of our total water use, among other plans.

Low Carbon

Abu Dhabi boosts carbon capture plans as it moves to lower emissions