hub aims to extract and store 9 Mtpa of CO 2 . In the UAE, the government has launched the ADNOC CCUS Centre, which oversees the development and implementation of CCUS projects in the country, the report notes. ADNOC aims to enhance its CO 2 utilisation capabilities and increase its CO 2 capturing capacity by over 500%, reaching approximately 5mn tons per annum (Mtpa) by 2030. Qatar has launched two CCUS facilities which are already operational. QatarEnergy’s sustainability strategy has an ambitious target to capture more than 11 Mtpa of CO 2 by 2035. An IEF report entitled “Market Assessment for CCUS in the MENA Region” finds that the cost of CCUS is projected to decline significantly due to technological advancements, economies of scale and standardisation. It highlights the importance of regional collaboration to bring CCUS projects to fruition at the required scale for cost reductions to materialise. “The MENA region has vast potential for CCUS deployment, given its abundant sources of CO₂ emissions from the oil and gas sector, and the need to decarbonise hard- to-abate sectors. By investing in CCUS, MENA countries can not only reduce their emissions but also create new opportunities for economic growth and job creation based on the enhanced carbon competitiveness of the hydrocarbon industries and hard to abate sectors.” Governments and industry can facilitate investment in CCUS technologies and scale deployment by enhancing collaboration in the MENA region and beyond, the IEF’s two reports find. ■ Image Credit: IEF carbon capture The region is moving ahead with carbon capture projects. Top seven planned CCUS projects by capacity in MENA region Name Country Commissioning Carbon point source Use type Capacity (Mtpa) Jubail CCS hub* Saudi Arabia 2027 Not specified Not specified 9.0 Ras Laffan Qatar CCS Project Phase 2 Qatar 2025 Energy generation - natural gas processing EOR 5.0 20 ISSUE 5 2024 | oilreviewmiddleeast.com “The MENA region has vast potential for CCUS deployment.”