Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the UAE's energy giant, has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Australia's Santos to explore the development of a joint global carbon management platform. This initiative aims to play a pivotal role in supporting the decarbonization efforts in the Asia-Pacific region and advancing net-zero goals.

The collaboration focuses on potential joint ventures in carbon capture technologies, global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, and innovative solutions for shipping and transporting CO2. Both companies are committed to advancing CCS technologies essential for accelerating global industrial decarbonization.

In addition, ADNOC and Santos will investigate the establishment of a carbon dioxide shipping and transportation infrastructure network. This network will facilitate the capture, shipping, and permanent storage of CO2, offering heavy-emitting sectors a comprehensive solution for reducing their carbon footprint.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC’s Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, stated, "Through this partnership, ADNOC and Santos will work together aiming to scale up the carbon management technologies of the future while leveraging our combined expertise and experience in safely transporting, capturing, and storing carbon to help markets in the Asia-Pacific decarbonize."

ADNOC is actively pursuing decarbonization initiatives, including the Al Reyadah facility, with a capacity to process 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The company has also announced significant carbon capture projects in the Middle East and North Africa, further solidifying its commitment to carbon capture capacity.

Alan Stuart-Grant, Energy Solutions Executive Vice President at Santos, emphasized the need for large-scale CCS expansion to meet global climate objectives. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of companies like Santos and ADNOC, equipped with the technology and knowledge to deliver low-cost CCS and low-carbon energy globally.

This collaboration aligns with ADNOC's broader carbon management strategy, targeting a carbon capture capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum by 2030. Santos, in parallel, is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint through initiatives like the proposed CCS project in the Timor Sea and cross-border CCS solutions in collaboration with SK E&S.

The agreement signifies a significant step towards international cooperation in addressing climate challenges, with both ADNOC and Santos contributing their expertise to the forefront of the global transition to a low-carbon future.