JEDDAH: Saudi Aramco has unveiled the Kingdom’s first direct air capture test unit, marking a significant milestone in its mission to reduce emissions and advance carbon capture technology for a sustainable future.

The unit is capable of removing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, according to an official statement from Aramco.

As the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals company, Aramco emphasized that the pilot plant, developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, represents a crucial step in enhancing DAC capabilities.

Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco’s senior vice president of technology oversight and coordination, highlighted that direct carbon dioxide capture technologies will play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in industries that are difficult to decarbonize.

“The test facility launched by Aramco is a key step in our efforts to scale up viable DAC systems, for deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. In addition to helping address emissions, the CO2 extracted through this process can in turn be used to produce more sustainable chemicals and fuels.” Al-Meshari said.

The development is in line with Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, following a circular carbon economy approach that emphasizes reducing, reusing, recycling, and removing carbon.

This initiative also supports the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030 and transition 50 percent of the country’s energy sources to renewables.

The project reflects Aramco’s strong commitment to carbon capture, a critical component of its goal to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned and operated assets by 2050.

Aramco plans to use the new facility as a testing ground for next-generation CO2 capture materials specifically designed for Saudi Arabia’s unique climate. Additionally, the company aims to drive down costs, promoting the quicker adoption of DAC technologies in the region.

As part of its circular carbon economy strategy, Aramco is exploring methods for capturing CO2 both at emission sources and directly from the atmosphere, incorporating cutting-edge technological solutions, as stated in the company’s announcement.

In partnership with Siemens Energy, Aramco intends to scale up the technology and lay the groundwork for large-scale DAC facilities in the future.

Furthermore, the DAC test facility launch comes shortly after Aramco, along with its partners Linde and SLB, signed a shareholders’ agreement to develop a carbon capture and storage hub in Jubail. Phase one of the hub will have the capacity to capture 9 million tonnes of CO2 from three Aramco gas plants and other industrial sources.

In October 2023, Saudi Aramco announced its collaboration with major international companies to develop emissions reduction solutions, including lower-carbon hydrogen, direct air capture of CO2, and an innovative approach to CO2 storage.

JEDDAH: Over 2.5 million Syrian residents in Saudi Arabia will benefit from direct flights between Dammam and Damascus, reconnecting families and enhancing transport between the two countries.

Routes between the two cities resumed on March 19 after a 13-year hiatus, with a Syrian Air plane departing King Fahd International Airport in Dammam for Damascus.

The morning flight complements the direct service from the Kingdom’s three major cities to Syria after Syrian Air resumed operations at Saudi airports last year.

Passenger flights between the two countries were halted in 2012 when Riyadh severed ties with Damascus over Bashar Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protesters at the start of the country’s civil war.

Services between Syria and the Kingdom resumed temporarily in May for pilgrims participating in the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The first group of 270 Syrian travelers arrived in Jeddah on May 28, just a few days after Saudi Arabia appointed Faisal bin Saud Al-Mujfel as its ambassador to Syria.

Commercial flights between Saudi Arabia and Syria resumed in July following a 12-year freeze amid improving relations. A Syrian Air plane carrying 170 passengers from Damascus landed in Riyadh, marking the return of regular services. 

This was followed by the reinstatement of flights between Damascus and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah in November. 

Mohammed Ayman Soussan, Syria’s ambassador to the Kingdom, who took office in Riyadh in January 2024, said the two countries had agreed to operate one round-trip flight per week between the two capitals.

After the diplomatic gap, Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed to resume consular services in April 2023 and restored full relations in May 2023. 

Global flights resumed at Damascus International Airport in January for the first time since the ouster of President Bashar Assad last month.

Saudi Arabia has sent relief planes to Syria following the fall of the former president to assist with the ongoing crisis. These humanitarian efforts, organized by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, also known as KSrelief, have delivered essential supplies, including food, shelter, and medical aid, to help the Syrian people cope with their challenging circumstances.

Additional flights to Syrian destinations are expected soon, following the reopening of Aleppo International Airport — the country’s second major airport — after nearly three months of closure.

The airport was closed in November during the offensive by rebel groups against the regime of Bashar Assad in early December.