First Direct Air Carbon Capture Facility Launched in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Aramco, in collaboration with Siemens Energy, has launched the Kingdom’s first direct air capture (DAC) test unit. The pilot facility, now operational, is capable of removing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually from the atmosphere.

The project will serve as a platform to test and optimise CO₂ capture materials in Saudi Arabia’s climate, with the long-term aim of scaling up DAC systems and lowering associated costs. This effort aligns with Aramco’s broader target of achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, and Saudi Arabia’s national commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Aramco and Siemens Energy first announced the pilot project in October 2023, with plans to eventually expand to a larger plant capable of capturing 1,250 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The initiative complements Aramco’s wider investment in carbon removal technologies, including a USD 80 million stake in U.S.-based CarbonCapture Inc.

In December 2023, Aramco also signed agreements with SLB and Linde to develop a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Jubail Industrial City, aiming to sequester up to 9 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by the end of 2027.

The DAC unit forms part of the Kingdom’s circular carbon economy framework, which promotes reducing, reusing, recycling, and removing emissions. It also supports the Saudi Green Initiative’s goal of cutting carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030, and transitioning 50% of national energy production to renewables.