Al Reyadah Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS) Project – UAE

A leading national energy strategy team partnered with us to evaluate the operational effectiveness, scalability roadmap, and strategic industrial value creation of the Al Reyadah CCUS initiative, the world’s first fully commercial carbon capture solution supporting the steel manufacturing sector. The goal was to assess its role in decarbonization, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), natural gas substitution, and future alignment with the UAE’s CO₂ transport network planning and middle East industrial sustainability strategy.

What We Did

We conducted a comprehensive technical and market assessment of the Al Reyadah CCUS system and its integration with Emirates Steel and downstream EOR assets. Areas of focus included:

• CCUS Value Chain benchmarking study
  Traced the end-to-end carbon flow from DRI steel plant emissions through capture, purification (>99% CO₂), compression, and pipeline transport to ADNOC-operated oil reservoirs.
• Technology & Performance Benchmarking
  Assessed process efficiency of the MEA-based absorption and recovery system, compression infrastructure, and underground injection reliability.
• Industrial & Economic Benefits Review
  Quantified natural gas displacement through CCUS due to pressure maintenance substitution and evaluated carbon monetization via EOR uplift.
• Policy & Infrastructure Alignment
  Reviewed how Al Reyadah fits into the UAE’s 2045 net-zero strategy, carbon hub model feasibility and industrial decarbonization mandates under ADNOC and Emirates Steel’s sustainability frameworks.
• Scalability Potential Analysis
  Evaluated opportunities to extend CCUS beyond steel — including cement, refining, and petrochemical clusters in Mussafah and beyond.

How We Did It

Our approach combined engineering intelligence with economic insights:

Technical Desk Research

• Reviewed operational documentation, emissions data, geological storage studies, and industry reporting
• Benchmarked global commercial CCUS deployments and EOR economics
• Strategized ADNOC CO₂ pipeline development analysis

Expert Interviews

• Engaged steel plant operators, CCUS process leads, geological specialists, and regional clean-tech stakeholders
• Captured perspectives on capture efficiency, maintenance cycles, and asset utilization

Scenario Modeling

• Forecasted future CO₂ volumes and potential points of capture expansion
• Modeled investment viability under evolving carbon regulations, global steel decarbonization trends, and oil recovery economics

Validation & Data Assurance

• Triangulated findings with international CCUS regulatory bodies and infrastructure publications for accuracy and comparability

Outcome

The study provided a first-of-its-kind decision-support blueprint for accelerating CCUS leadership in the region:

Operational Excellence Recognition

• Validated 8 Mt/yr CO₂ capture capability with scalable design foundations
• Demonstrated stable CO₂ purity and continuous injection for maximizing EOR recovery

Strategic Carbon Reduction Impact

• Enabled direct Scope 1 emission cuts from steelmaking
• Highlighted natural gas preservation gains for higher-value domestic use

Economic Viability & Value Stack

• Reinforced long-term competitiveness via:
  • Enhanced oil recovery CCUS impact
  • Future potential for carbon trading
  • High-value CCUS employment and innovation growth in the UAE

Pathway to UAE CO₂ Network & Hub

• Positioned the Mussafah cluster as a centralized CO₂ collection node supporting expansion to:
  • Cement & refining assets
  • Non-EOR saline storage reservoirs
  • Regional CO₂ shipping partnerships

Global Industry Benchmarking

• Established the UAE as a leader in industrial CCUS project evaluation — influencing climate-smart low-carbon steel production transformation globally

Client Actions

Following our engagement:

• The client advanced planning for CO₂ pipeline grid development to integrate additional industrial emitters.
• Initiated feasibility studies on scaling capture technologies across Gulf region energy transition projects and materials sectors.
• Strengthened visibility with international climate forums, positioning Al Reyadah as a showcase for UAE steel decarbonization initiative and commercial CCUS adoption.
• Unlock the future of low-carbon industrial ecosystems through scalable CCUS intelligence.
  Connect with us to explore high-impact UAE decarbonization

Click: https://www.marketsandata.com/industry-reports/carbon-capture-utilization-and-storage-market