Abu Dhabi Investment Office partners with climate tech leader Partanna to decarbonise the concrete industry

This collaboration, announced during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week (ADBW), held 4 – 6 December under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, will establish Abu Dhabi as the regional epicentre for carbon-negative building materials, creating new possibilities for global sustainability.

The agreement will support Partanna’s ambitions to decarbonise the US$400 billion global cement industry by facilitating the company’s establishment of large-scale manufacturing operations in Abu Dhabi to service the regional market. As part of the collaboration, Partanna will produce Verra-certified carbon credits, supporting the reduction of carbon emissions in alignment with Abu Dhabi’s climate goals.

Cement production accounts for nearly 9% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and traditional manufacturing methods remain among the most significant contributors to climate change. Partanna’s modern reinterpretation of cement offers an innovative, scalable solution. By replacing carbon-intensive clinkering with magnesium compounds derived from brine – a by-product of desalination – Partanna turns a waste stream into a valuable resource while producing a cost competitive product.

Under the agreement, Partanna’s new facility in Abu Dhabi will convert waste brine into carbon-negative cement, not only neutralising emissions but also actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere, transforming concrete into a carbon sink.

Complying with international building standards, Partanna cement is compatible with reinforced steel and shows improved strength in saltwater conditions. The new Abu Dhabi facility will produce up to 3 million t of Partanna binder annually – equivalent to 10% of the UAE’s cement market – while setting the stage for expansion across the region and beyond. By achieving this output, Partanna would achieve the same positive carbon impact as the Borneo Rainforest, offsetting approximately 7.98 million metric t of CO2 annually.

The Abu Dhabi facility will act as Partanna’s flagship operation and regional headquarters, designed as a franchisable model to replicate worldwide, enabling rapid adoption in other high-growth regions. By leveraging Abu Dhabi’s advanced infrastructure, the country’s vast brine resources, and ADIO’s network of industry stakeholders and proximity to regional markets, the collaboration is poised to set a new standard for industrial sustainability.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/09122024/abu-dhabi-investment-office-partners-with-climate-tech-leader-partanna-to-decarbonise-the-concrete-industry/