Saudi Arabia exploring building carbon-negative concrete facility

It is estimated that the construction industry contributes 38% of global carbon emissions

Saudi Arabian real estate developer Roshn has entered into a partnership with Partanna Arabia, a Riyadh-headquartered climate technology company, to collaborate on the potential construction of a carbon-negative concrete production facility.

It is planned that the facility would initially deliver carbon-negative pavers, and has the potential to produce blocks, tile, precast and pour-in-place solutions. This will help Roshn with its ambition to build over 400,000 homes, 1,000 schools and more than 700 mosques by 2030.

Partanna’s proprietary concrete formula, which can be made from recycled ingredients, does not require any Portland cement or heating during the production process. The company’s patented mixing process is said to unlock new compounds that react and passively absorb CO₂.

By avoiding emissions associated with clinkering, and by utilising waste materials made in Saudi, Partanna materials quickly become carbon negative – without the need for CCUS technology (carbon capture, usage, and storage).

Rick Fox, CEO of Partanna said, “Together, we’re going to show the world that you can build sustainably without compromise. Together, we’re going to delink Saudi Arabia’s development from pollution. Together, we’re going to change the way the world builds.”

Roshn has entered into a partnership with Partanna Arabia

Partanna estimates that if 100,000 homes were built with Partanna material, they would avoid or remove the equivalent CO₂ of the annual emissions of over one million cars. Saudi Arabia has sustainability goals as part of its Vision 2030.

It is estimated that the construction industry contributes 38% of global carbon emissions.

Operating at full capacity, the planned facility has the potential to generate 1.3 million carbon credits annually. These grey-carbon credits – so-called because they emanate from the grey, built environment – can be sold to Saudi businesses looking to offset their own emissions.

This agreement follows Partanna launching its first carbon-negative ‘home for the world’ in The Bahamas, which is the first of 1,000 to be delivered in partnership with the Bahamian Government.