Al Baleed Petrochemical joins Carbeau to commercialise Volta CO₂-to-chemicals technology
- Carbeau is a new spin-out commercialising Avantium’s Volta electrochemical CO₂ conversion technology, backed by Avantium, Invest-NL, NOM, GKT and Al Baleed Petrochemical.
- The process converts captured CO₂ with renewable electricity into high‑value chemicals, initially glycolic acid and the biodegradable polymer PLGA.
- Al Baleed positions Salalah as a potential site for the first commercial deployment outside Europe, citing high solar irradiation, existing CO₂ sources and export logistics.
- The move aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 and the Salalah Petrochemical Park plan to integrate conventional petrochemicals with low‑carbon feedstocks.
Partnership and technology
Al Baleed Petrochemical has joined Carbeau as a strategic partner. Carbeau was launched after the spin‑out of Avantium’s Volta Technology and is supported by a consortium including Avantium, Invest‑NL, NOM and GKT. The company commercialises an advanced electrochemical process that converts captured CO₂ into chemicals using renewable electricity.
Target products
Initial commercial products from the technology are glycolic acid, a specialty chemical for personal care and industrial uses, and PLGA, a next‑generation biodegradable polymer with market potential.
Why Salalah
Al Baleed frames Salalah as a candidate for the first commercial‑scale deployment of Carbeau’s technology outside Europe. Advantages cited include strong solar irradiation for competitive renewable power, Oman’s push for electrification and renewables, existing industrial infrastructure and CO₂‑emitting industries within the Salalah Free Zone, and export logistics.
Outlook
The partners aim to integrate carbon utilisation into the Salalah Petrochemical Park to convert captured CO₂ into feedstocks rather than treating it as waste, advancing Oman’s industrial diversification and circular carbon objectives under Vision 2040.
Source: Al Baleed Petrochemical
