ROME/PARIS: Cement manufacturer Holcim has partnered with Italian energy major Eni to capture and sequester carbon in olivine, a primary component of the Earth's upper mantle.

About 50 percent of the mineral for industrial use is produced in Norway in an area stretching from Åheim to Tafjord and from Hornindal to Flemsøy in the Sunnmøre district.

According to both companies, the olivine would enable the permanent sequestration of CO2 in the production of green cement for the construction industry. All the CO2 that is produced by burning one liter of oil can be sequestered by less than one liter of olivine. Holcim is currently mapping its most relevant sites in Europe to begin an industrial-scale pilot programme.

“The world needs transformational technologies to accelerate our transition to net zero,” commented Edelio Bermejo, head of Holcim’s Innovation Center. “Our work with Eni is in line with our open innovation ecosystem, partnering with like-minded organizations, from startups to multinationals, to make a bigger difference together.”

The new partnership adds to Holcim’s carbon capture utilization and storage portfolio, with over 30 projects in the US, Canada and Europe ranging from recycling CO2 for crop growth in greenhouses to Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Eni will soon begin distilling waste vegetable oils and fats at its Livorno refinery to produce SAF Eni Biojet, containing 100 percent biogenic content to blend up to 50 percent with conventional jet fuel.

“Innovation and technological development are the strategic keys to successfully tackling the challenge of the energy transition, for this we are delighted about this collaboration, which will leverage Eni's R&D expertise and Holcim's experience,” added Eni head of Research & Technological Innovation Monica Spade. “This technology allows us to accelerate on our path towards decarbonisation, by providing a suitable solution for the hard-to-abate sectors".