Holcim UAE & 44.01 Advances Industrial Decarbonization with Full-TimeCO₂ Capture andUnderground Mineralization Pilot
- HolcimUAE’spioneeringFujairahpilotreachesfulloperation,connectingcement production with 44.01’s underground CO₂ mineralization to advance low-carbon innovation at scale.
- Thefacilityhasbeenfullyoperationalsince15July,withatargeteddailycapturerateof 4 to 4.5 tonnes of CO₂, stored through 44.01’s geological mineralization technology.
- ThebreakthroughstrengthenstheUAE’sdecarbonizationjourney,demonstratingthe role of CCUS innovation and strategic partnerships in achieving Net Zero 2050 ambitions.
FUJAIRAH, UAE – August 2026 –Building on the strategic partnership announced last year, Holcim UAE and carbon storage innovator 44.01 have achieved a milestone in industrial decarbonization with the UAE’s first continuous, live-condition carbon capture and underground mineralization pilot for the cement industry now fully operational in Fujairah.
Following its official Commissioning Day, the facility has been fully operational since 15 July, capturing CO₂ directly from the flue gas of Holcim’s Fujairah Cement Plant, designed to capture 4 to 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ daily.
The captured CO₂ is transported to 44.01’s mineralization site, where it is injected deep underground into Fujairah’s naturally occurring ultramafic rock formations, undergoing mineralization into solid carbonate rock through an accelerated natural process that provides a permanent, local carbon storage solution.
Ali Said, CEO of Holcim UAE & Oman, commented, “When we announced this partnership, we set out to prove that industrial decarbonization is not a far-off goal, but an immediate reality. Achieving full-time capture and mineralization at our Fujairah plant is an important step forward. DeliveringonHolcim’sNextGenGrowthstrategy,weareleadingindustrialdecarbonizationinthe UAE by bringing scalable, sustainable, and innovative solutions to market. Through our active carbon capture and mineralization efforts, we are permanently storing carbon and creating in-country value, sustainability, and circularity into the foundation of the built environment. Deep cross-industry partnerships remain vital to accelerating the UAE’s 2050 Net Zero target.”
This operational milestone marks the transition of the project from a pioneering concept to a proven,real-worlddecarbonizationsolution.Bydemonstratingthecompletecarbonmanagement cycle, from capture and specialized transport to permanent in-situ mineralization under live industrial conditions, the initiative showcases a practical and scalable pathway to reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. Over the next six months, the pilot will continue generating critical operational insights to validate the scalability and commercial potential of permanent carbon storage.
Beyonditstechnologicalachievement,theprojecthighlightsthepoweroflocalcollaborationand cross-industrypartnershipsinacceleratingtheUAE’sdecarbonizationagendaandsupportingits Net Zero 2050 ambitions. At the same time, it establishes a global benchmark for the cement industry, contributing to Holcim’s broader portfolio of pioneering CCUS initiatives and demonstrating a replicable model for industrial carbon reduction worldwide.
“This Fujairah project demonstrates what 44.01 is building: real projects that deliver safe, permanentCO₂storagelocally.Byintegratingourin-situmineralisationtechnologywithHolcim’s livecementoperations,weareprovingthatpermanentcarbonstoragecanbedeployedtodayto decarboniseanindustrialsite.ThismilestonesupportstheUAE’sNetZero2050visionwhilealso establishing a scalable model that can be replicated across diverse industries and geological settings worldwide.” added, Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01.
Thesuccessfuloperationofthepilotismadepossiblethroughstrongpublic-privatecollaboration, supported by key partners including the FujairahNaturalResourcesCorporation(FNRC), the Fujairah Environment Authority (FEA), NT Energies and Gulf Cryo.
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About Holcim
Holcim(SIX:HOLN)istheleadingpartnerforsustainableconstructionwithnetsalesofCHF15.7billionin2025, creating value across the built environment from infrastructure and industry to buildings. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland,Holcimhasmorethan50000employeesin45countries–across Europe,LatinAmericaandAsia, Middle East & Africa –and has been recognized as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute. Holcim offers high-value end-to-end Building Materials and Building Solutions, from foundation and flooring to walling and roofing –powered by premium brands including ECOPact, ECOPlanet, ECOCycle, and Ytong.
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