Media Releases
The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Joins the Global CCS Institute
11th October 2023
Saudi Arabia Becomes a Member of a CCS-focused Think Tank to Further Drive Climate Targets
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The Global CCS Institute is pleased to welcome the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), represented by the Ministry of Energy, as the latest member to join the Institute. As a member of an international think tank focused on scaling up carbon capture and storage technology (CCS), Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to tackling the climate challenge through collaboration, innovation and the adoption of proven technologies.
With a target to reach net zero by 2060, Saudi Arabia has a diverse portfolio aimed at reducing carbon emissions, including through the use of CCS. The Global CCS Institute is keen to work with the Saudi Arabian government to provide expertise to drive the accelerated deployment of CCS technology.
The membership signing ceremony took place during MENA Climate Week 2023, held in Riyadh. “Saudi Arabia is putting plans in place to develop large-scale projects that will have the capacity to capture and store millions of tonnes of CO2 from industry, subsequently being poised to be a CCS leader in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region”, said Mr Jarad Daniels, CEO of the Global CCS Institute. “As the country shifts from CCS ambition to CCS action, we look forward to being an active part of that journey”, added Mr. Jarad Daniels.
The Global CCS Institute’s diverse membership is over 200 strong, spanning 33 countries, including 13 government members. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, which is leading the government’s carbon capture and storage efforts, will work closely with the Institute on CCS capacity building.
“CCS is a needed technology that will drive a low-emission transition across hard-to-abate industries”, said HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. “In 2022, Saudi Arabia announced plans to develop one of the largest CCS hubs in the world, where 44 million tonnes of CO2 will be mitigated annually through CCS efforts in the Jubail by 2035. Getting ambitions climate projects off the ground will require partnerships and region-specific expertise and knowledge, and being a member of the Global CCS Institute will enhance that further”, added, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
Although there are over 250 CCS facilities in various stage globally, that number will need to increase by 100-fold for international climate targets to be reached by mid-century. Saudi Arabia’s geological storage capacity makes the country an excellent candidate for CCS deployment and industrial decarbonisation efforts.
Attending the signing ceremony during MENA Climate Week, from left to right: Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, the Institute’s Head of MENA Region, CEO of the Institute, Jarad Daniels, Khalid Abuleif, Chief Negotiator for the Climate Agreements at the KSA’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Faisal Al Musa, Director General at the KSA’s Ministry of Energy, and Faisal Al Qurooni, CCE Manager at the Ministry of Energy
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About
The Global CCS Institute is an international think tank whose mission is to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a vital technology to tackle climate change and deliver climate neutrality. Alongside its Members, the Institute drives the adoption of CCS as quickly and cost effectively as possible by sharing expertise, building capacity and providing advice and support so that this vital technology can play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit www.globalccsinstitute.com.
The Ministry of Energy oversees the activities of the sector through policy creation, regulation, and enablement. That includes a hydrocarbon strategy covering upstream and downstream activities (oil, gas, refining, and petrochemicals), electricity (conventional and renewables), and new vectors such as clean hydrogen and carbon management. The Ministry is responsible for developing these strategies and following up on their implementation, developing supporting policies for the energy sectors, and supporting decisionmakers through conducting studies on various strategies and policies. https://www.moenergy.gov.sa
Media Contacts
Global CCS Institute:
UAE: Mohammad Abu Zahra – mohammad.abuzahra@globalccsinstitute.com; +971(0)45230880
UK and Europe: Ruth Gebremedhin – ruth.gebremedhin@globalccsinstitute.com; +44(0)7950278261
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Energy:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Sarah M. Mojadidi – Sarah.Mojadidi@moenergy.gov.sa, +966112232689