The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has entered into an agreement with Partanna, a climate-focused technology company from the Bahamas, to establish a manufacturing plant and regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
The facility will focus on producing carbon-negative cement by using brine, a waste product from desalination plants, as a raw material. This approach replaces the carbon-intensive clinkering process used in traditional cement production. The cement made by Partanna not only avoids carbon dioxide emissions but also absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere, turning concrete into a carbon sink.
Cement production is responsible for around 9% of global CO₂ emissions, making it one of the largest contributors to climate change. Partanna’s process uses magnesium compounds from brine, transforming a waste product into a resource for making sustainable cement.
The Abu Dhabi facility is expected to produce up to 3 million tonnes of Partanna binder annually. This output represents 10% of the UAE’s cement market and could offset approximately 7.98 million metric tonnes of CO₂ each year, similar to the carbon-capturing capacity of the Borneo Rainforest. The facility will comply with international building standards and be scalable for use in other regions.
The emirate has been developing its clean energy infrastructure, including solar power plants, wind projects, and waste-to-energy facilities. The integration of carbon-negative materials into industrial processes coupled with these renewable energy initiatives will aid to Abu Dhabi’s clean energy goal.
Partanna’s facility will leverage Abu Dhabi’s existing resources, including advanced infrastructure and an abundant supply of desalination brine. It will also support the creation of Verra-certified carbon credits, which help reduce global emissions. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2025 and will serve as a model for scaling this technology globally. With rising desalination activity worldwide, Partanna’s process offers a potential solution for the cement industry to lower its environmental impact.
