ABU DHABI, Hugo Dikgraaf, the Executive Director of Technology at Wintershall Dea, the German company, has affirmed that the company hopes to invest in and develop more projects in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East and North Africa region.
Dikgraaf, responding to a question from the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during a media briefing on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2023), stated that Wintershall Dea will continue to explore more opportunities for carbon capture and storage, both in Europe and on a global scale, including the UAE, the Middle East, and North Africa.
He further added, “While the current focus of our carbon capture and storage portfolio is clearly on Europe, we hope to invest in and develop projects in the UAE, the Middle East, and North Africa in the foreseeable future. This region is very promising, as it has significant geological attributes.”
Dikgraaf emphasized that carbon capture and low-carbon hydrogen technology derived from natural gas can play a crucial role in reducing industrial emissions, but there are still obstacles to overcome, and we must contribute to driving emissions reduction in the industry and reducing high emissions.
The Executive Director of Technology at Wintershall Dea mentioned that the company is currently planning to build a global carbon management portfolio that can reduce between 20 to 30 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2040, equivalent to 60% of the massive carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the German steel industry.
He noted that the “Green Sand” project in Denmark, in which Wintershall Dea is involved, is one of the most advanced carbon capture and storage projects in Europe, explaining that at the beginning of this year, the first injection of carbon dioxide took place in the “Nini West” oil field in the Danish North Sea.
He pointed out that for the first time across European Union countries, the entire carbon capture and storage value chain (capture, transport, and storage) has been implemented across borders.
On her part, Margarete Kleczar, Deputy Vice President for Carbon and Hydrogen Management, stated that the Green Sand project is an important step towards developing the European infrastructure for carbon capture and storage and removing carbon from the industry, contributing to climate protection.
She also mentioned that the company has expanded its carbon capture and storage activities in Europe and continues to exchange information about carbon capture and storage with its partners in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Source: Emirates News Agency
