In line with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 initiative, Gulf Cryo, a regional leader in industrial gases and decarbonisation solutions, and RAK Ceramics, one of the world’s largest ceramics manufacturers, inaugurated the country’s first carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) plant dedicated to high-purity CO2 production.

The new plant, owned and operated by Gulf Cryo, captures CO2 from RAK Ceramic’s emissions and transforms it into a valuable product used by industries across the nation, including energy, food and beverage, healthcare, and agriculture.

Inaugurated by Sheikh Saqr bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Ceramics, alongside Sami Huneidi, Chief Administrative Officer of Gulf Cryo, and senior executives from both companies, the carbon capture facility is the first in the UAE dedicated to producing 99.99 per cent pure, food-grade CO2 for the merchant market.

Capturing around 17,000 metric tons of CO2 annually from RAK Ceramics’ natural-gas engines, the process is considered complex given the low CO2 concentration in the emissions.

Gulf Cryo has successfully integrated a system that uses an energy-efficient purification process that converts emissions into clean, liquefied CO2. The company then distributes it to local industries.

Previously, Gulf Cryo imported recovered CO2 from its carbon recovery facilities in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

However, the new plant will strengthen the UAE’s circular carbon economy and will contribute to Ras Al Khaimah’s Integrated Sustainability Strategy 2050.

Commenting on the plant, Huneidi says: "At Gulf Cryo, we are committed to driving the carbon economy, continuously expanding our capacities to provide a reliable source of CO2 for both existing markets and emerging technologies that rely on it as a key resource.

Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO of RAK Ceramics, said: "At RAK Ceramics, sustainability is at the heart of our growth strategy. Our partnership with Gulf Cryo marks a significant step forward in our journey towards decarbonisation and resource efficiency. By embracing innovative solutions that reduce our environmental footprint, we continue to drive positive change across our operations and contribute to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision."