Definition

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) encompasses a suite of technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) at the point of emission — typically from power plants, cement factories, steel mills, or chemical facilities — and either store it permanently underground in geological formations or utilise it in industrial processes. Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a related technology that removes CO2 directly from ambient air. CCUS is considered essential for achieving net-zero targets in sectors where emissions cannot be fully eliminated through electrification or process changes alone.

UAE Context

The UAE operates the Arab world’s first commercial-scale carbon capture facility — Al Reyadah — which captures approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from Emirates Steel’s plant in Abu Dhabi. The captured CO2 is compressed and transported via pipeline to ADNOC’s oil fields, where it is injected for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). ADNOC has announced plans to expand its CCUS capacity to 10 million tonnes per annum by 2030, making it one of the largest CCUS programmes globally. The expansion will involve capturing emissions from natural gas processing plants, refining operations, and potentially industrial clusters in Ruwais.

Key Data

Al Reyadah has captured over 5 million cumulative tonnes of CO2 since beginning operations in 2016. ADNOC’s planned CCUS expansion represents a capital investment exceeding USD 15 billion. The UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy identifies CCUS as a critical pathway for decarbonising the hydrocarbon value chain and heavy industry, projecting that CCUS could abate up to 20 percent of the country’s total emissions by mid-century.

Vision 2031 Significance

CCUS allows the UAE to pursue decarbonisation without abruptly curtailing its hydrocarbon sector, which remains a major revenue source and employer. The technology provides a pragmatic bridge between the current fossil-fuel-dependent economy and a future low-carbon model, while also creating exportable expertise and technology that can serve global decarbonisation markets.

Related Terms

• Net Zero 2050 — The national climate strategy for which CCUS is a critical enabler.
• ADNOC — The lead entity developing UAE CCUS infrastructure at scale.
• Green Hydrogen — A complementary decarbonisation pathway alongside CCUS.
• Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) — The process using captured CO2 to extract additional oil from mature fields.