Omani carbon capture technology start-up 44.01 was announced a winner of the 2022 Earthshot Award in the Fix Our Climate category. 

The Earthshot Prize awards five winners each year for their environmental contributions and was first awarded in 2021. It’s presented by the Royal Foundation, and it’s expected to run until 2030. Each winner receives £1 million to carry out their environmental work. 

The start-up devised a “mineralisation” process that removes CO2 from the atmosphere by converting it into rock, unlike conventional methods which entail burying carbon dioxide in depleted oilwells.

“We are delighted to have been recognised by the Earthshot Prize,” said Talal Hasan, 44.01’s founder and chief executive, after Britain’s Prince William announced the 2022 winners in Boston on Friday, 2 December, reported The National News.

“Mineralisation can offer a safe, cost-effective way of eliminating CO2 forever. Our challenge is to scale our solution internationally, and the Earthshot Prize will help us to do just that.”

Named after the molecular mass of CO2, 44.01 has run successful trials of its carbon capture process in Oman and aims to commercialize the technology next year. 

The company eradicates CO2 by mineralising it in peridotite, a rock commonly found in Oman, North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. 

Peridotite mineralization occurs naturally; 44.01 claims it can accelerate the process by injecting carbonated fluid into seams of peridotite deep underground, according to media reports. The start-up plans to mineralize one billion tons of CO2 by 2040.