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The new production facility in Abu Dhabi will have a positive carbon impact equivalent to the Borneo rain forest
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has partnered with Partanna, a Bahamian climate tech company, to establish its regional headquarters and a manufacturing facility in the UAE capital. This collaboration will establish the emirate 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 $400bn global cement industry, facilitating the company’s establishment of large-scale manufacturing operations in Abu Dhabi and servicing 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 pointed out that its 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, said a statement.
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 three million tonnes 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 will achieve the same positive carbon impact as the Borneo Rainforest, offsetting approximately 7.98m metric tonnes of CO2 annually.
ADIO Director General, Badr Al Olama said: “At the core of Abu Dhabi’s economic transformation lies innovation. Through strategic partnerships with pioneering companies like Partanna, we are demonstrating that economic growth and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive. This collaboration is a testament to our unwavering commitment to shaping the industries of future, and to accelerating industrial innovation.”
Rick Fox, the Co-Founder and CEO of Partanna commented, “From the Roman Empire to the modern era, great civilisations are built on great materials. Partanna is bringing a new era of cement to the world and there’s no better place to scale our business globally than Abu Dhabi. This isn’t just about building a factory; it’s about building a future. With ADIO’s support, we’re creating a roadmap to scale this globally and show that sustainable construction is not only possible, but profitable.” |
