Saudi Aramco Launches Kingdom’s First CO2 Direct Air Capture Test Unit

RIYADH, March 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Aramco has launched the Kingdom’s first CO2 Direct Air Capture (DAC) test unit, capable of removing 12 tons of carbon dioxide per year from the atmosphere, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The pilot facility, developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, marks a significant milestone in Aramco’s strategy to advance carbon capture technology. The company plans to use the facility as a testing platform for next-generation CO2 capture materials adapted to Saudi Arabia’s unique climate. The initiative also aims to achieve cost efficiencies that could accelerate the broader deployment of DAC technologies in the region.

Aramco and Siemens Energy intend to continue collaborating to scale up this technology, with the potential to develop large-scale DAC facilities in the future. Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination, Ali Al-Meshari, said, “Technologies that directly capture carbon dioxide from the air will likely play an important role in reducing gas emissions moving forward, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors. The test facility launched by Aramco is a key step in our efforts to scale up viable DAC systems for deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. In addition to helping address emissions, the CO2 extracted through this process can, in turn, be used to produce more sustainable chemicals and fuels.”

According to the SPA report, the launch of the DAC test unit reflects Aramco’s strong commitment to carbon capture, a central pillar of the company’s ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly owned operated assets by 2050. The company is actively exploring carbon capture options both at emission points and directly from the atmosphere through its circular carbon economy approach and the deployment of innovative technologies.

The DAC launch follows Aramco’s December 2024 announcement of a shareholders' agreement with Linde and SLB to establish a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) hub in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The first phase of this hub will have the capacity to capture nine million tons of CO2 from three Aramco gas plants and other industrial sources, SPA added.