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Observer
2 days ago
- Business
- Observer
CEO TALK: From boardroom to bedrock: Decarbonising the planet, one rock at a time
WALAA HAMDAN MUSCAT, JUNE 1 In the escalating global battle against climate change, few figures personify purpose-driven entrepreneurship as compellingly as Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of Omani climate-tech startup 44.01. At the heart of his venture lies a deceptively simple yet world-changing mission: to remove as much carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere as possible—permanently, affordably, and at scale. Hasan's personal and professional transformation began not in a laboratory, but with a headline in 2018 that revealed the grim reality that Oman's seas contained the world's largest known ocean 'dead zone'—a vast, oxygen-depleted area where marine life could no longer survive. At the time, Hasan was working in venture capital at IDO Investments, backing high-growth tech and energy startups. But that sobering report shifted his trajectory entirely. 'I grew up as an environmentalist,' he recalled at a recent Startup Grind Muscat event, hosted by Walaa Hamdan. That revelation about Oman's marine life spurred deep research into climate science, eventually leading him to carbon capture—and more importantly, carbon storage, the Achilles' heel of many climate solutions. 'There was all this talk about capturing carbon, but no one was asking where to put it,' he explained. His answer? Mineralisation—a natural process that turns captured CO₂ into rock by injecting it into peridotite-rich formations, which are abundant in Oman. This process offered the promise of permanent, verifiable CO₂ removal. That idea crystallised into 44.01, named after the molecular weight of CO₂. Yet, moving from idea to implementation wasn't easy. Hasan left behind a prestigious, well-paid role in government—a 'very comfortable' position, he admitted—to found an unproven startup in a highly technical field. 'My own family thought I'd gone crazy,' he joked. 'But if you really believe in what you're doing... I just went for it.' The early days were lean and uncertain. "We didn't even know what kind of team we needed," he admitted. But he knew people were everything. Leveraging his network, he brought in a renowned carbon mineralisation scientist, a trusted colleague from IDO, and even interns from IDO programmes. Each person was chosen not just for technical skill, but for cultural fit. 'Spend time on culture,' he emphasised. 'Spend a lot of time on it.' At 44.01, team culture is intentional. They hold annual offsites, empower individuals to lead, and foster what Hasan calls a 'culture of thinking big.' As he put it, 'If you develop that culture of punching big, of being ambitious, and you get everyone in the team thinking like that, it starts to drive itself.' One of the company's first major hurdles was securing regulatory approval. 'Our first step was: Can we get the permit?' Hasan said. After months of pushing, they earned the world's first permit to mineralise CO₂ in this way—a milestone that validated their method and opened the door to commercial projects. Partnerships have been vital to scaling the vision. Early on, Hasan found himself navigating regulatory minefields, bringing six different government agencies to the same table—many of them meeting each other for the first time. 'If you can get more people to collaborate and get them in a room together, the sky's the limit,' he said. But partnerships aren't just about access or capital—they're about alignment. One potential lead investor dropped out of their Series A round for geopolitical reasons. Hasan later saw it as a blessing in disguise: 'Be picky about your investors,' he warned. 'Say no to money if the alignment isn't there. The wrong partners can pull you in the wrong direction.' That principled stance has paid off. 44.01 now boasts high-profile backers, including Sam Altman and Breakthrough Energy, the climate fund led by Bill Gates. The company has won the prestigious Earthshot Prize, along with multiple XPrize accolades—important endorsements, especially in a region more accustomed to importing rather than exporting advanced climate tech. Hasan remains clear-eyed about the stakes. 'If we can't do this in a way that's affordable, it won't scale,' he asserted. Economic viability is just as critical as environmental impact. To that end, 44.01 is now expanding into Europe, leveraging favourable regulatory frameworks and secured patents. Long term, the goal is to digitise the technology and license it globally, allowing others to deploy carbon mineralisation wherever the geology allows. As Hasan reflects on the journey from boardroom to bedrock, one message rings clear: 'Purpose comes before product.' For him, building 44.01 wasn't just about creating a business; it was about answering a personal calling to protect the planet—one mineralised tonne of CO₂ at a time.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
India steel plans threaten global emissions goals: report
India's plans to massively expand coal-based steel and iron production threaten global efforts to reduce the sector's carbon emissions, a key contributor to climate change, a report said Tuesday. The sector accounts for 11 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and India aims to double production by 2030. Switching from coal-dependent blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces (EAFs), which produce significantly fewer emissions, could reduce that figure. EAF production is projected to make up 36 percent of the sector by 2030, but that falls short of the 37 percent the International Energy Agency (IEA) says is needed to stay on track for net-zero by 2050. "The only realistic way to meet that 37 percent goal is with a change of plans from India," said Astrid Grigsby-Schulte from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM) think tank. That seemingly marginal one-percent difference "represents tens of millions of tonnes of CO2 generation", Grigsby-Schulte told AFP. EAFs generally rely on melting scrap steel, a process that does not use coal. They produce significantly fewer emissions, even when they rely on electricity from coal-dependent grids. Meeting the 2030 target is "critical", she said, "not only because of emissions immediately avoided, but also because it means we are laying the necessary groundwork for broader decarbonisation by 2050." China currently dominates global steel production, but its sector is stagnant. Meanwhile India, which targets carbon neutrality only by 2070, plans to massively expand domestic capacity. And the majority of India's announced steel development plans involve higher-emissions blast furnace production, in a country whose steel industry is already the world's most carbon intensive. However, there is a growing gap between India's steel capacity plans and actual developments on the ground, GEM said. Just 12 percent of its announced new capacity has come online since the country released its 2017 National Steel Policy. The comparable figure for China is 80 percent, GEM said. That suggests India's "ambitious growth plans are more talk than action thus far," the group added. And it "leaves a huge percentage of their development plans that could still shift to lower-emissions technologies," added Grigsby-Schulte. Demand for steel is continuing to grow, and the iron and steel industry is expected to be one of the last to continue using coal in the IEA's 2050 net-zero pathway. The organisation has warned that the sector needs to "accelerate significantly" to meet 2050 targets, including with innovative production methods that are currently in their infancy. sah/dhw/tym
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Government identifies 10 highway segments for zero-emission truck movement, the move to help India reach its climate goals
India has picked 10 key highway routes for zero-emission trucks to cut freight pollution and push green logistics (Representative Image: AI-generated) New Delhi: India has identified 10 high-impact highway segments where only zero-emission trucks (ZET) will be used for freight movement in the near future, as part of the country's larger goal for decarbonising the logistics sector, reducing air pollution, ensuring energy security and meeting the long-term climate goal of 'net zero' by 2070. These priority corridors, list of which was released by the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the government early this month, will be used as pilots for early ZET deployment, laying the groundwork for a dedicated national infrastructure network focusing on electric and hydrogen-based fuel technologies across all highways in the country in due course. Despite comprising only 3 per cent of all vehicles, trucks are responsible for more than one-third of transport-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the country. This is particularly concerning given that road transportation accounts for a staggering 71% of overall freight movement in India. According to the Niti Aayog estimates, the number of trucks will be increased by more than four times, from 4 million in 2022 to around 17 million by 2050. It is, therefore, important to move fast towards ZET deployment for long-term benefits and that's why the Office of the PSA has undertaken the initiative to identify the top corridors for initial deployment of such trucks in India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo 'These (10) corridors serve not only as the best candidates for ZET pilots, but as blueprints for the future of freight movement,' said Ajay K Sood, PSA, in his foreword to the 56-page report on India's priority corridors for Zero-Emission Trucking . He said, 'The adoption of ZET in India will play a crucial role in decarbonising the logistics sector, improving public health, enhancing energy independence, and showcasing the country's leadership in the global transition to a net-zero future.' ZET corridors are highway segments equipped with charging or refuelling infrastructure to facilitate seamless goods movement. "Establishing ZET corridors can help ensure the use of truck and infrastructure assets, demonstrate ZET operational and financial feasibility, help manage risks and lower costs, and unlock private capital for ZET projects," said the report. Efforts are already under way to kick-start ZET adoption in India as the central government has allocated Rs 500 crore for the purchase of such trucks under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme. The top 10 corridors are: Delhi - Chandigarh; Delhi -Jaipur; Pune - Nashik; Dhanbad - Kolkata; Kolkata - Haldia; Vijayawada - Visakhapatnam; Bengaluru - Chennai; Chennai - Viluppuram; Coimbatore - Salem; and Coimbatore - Kochi These corridors were identified through a three-phase process: quantitative and qualitative assessment of an initial list of 230 corridors using parameters such as toll traffic data and mapping of supply/demand centres, stakeholder consultations and detailed field research. Other factors such as high freight traffic, industrial activity, availability of ancillary services, grid infrastructure readiness, corridor length relative to battery range, and strategic stakeholder inputs for commercial and business viability were also taken into account while finalising the corridors. The report, identifying the high priority corridors, was prepared with the support of Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET) - IIT Madras, Rocky Mountain Institute, and pManifold as knowledge partners.
E&E News
15-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Zeldin poised to make Arizona water announcement
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin will make a water policy announcement Thursday with members of Arizona's congressional delegation, the agency said Wednesday. The event will feature Arizona Republican Reps. Andy Biggs and Rep. Paul Gosar and take place at EPA headquarters. It will include a 'signing ceremony,' the agency said. The confab comes two months after Zeldin met with Arizona business groups, state leaders and Arizona senators concerned about air quality requirements. The Phoenix area has struggled to achieve attainment of air quality standards, which some say is due to factors beyond companies' control, such as pollution sources in Mexico. Advertisement EPA previously held a water policy announcement and signing ceremony with officials from West Virginia. At that event, EPA granted the state's request for authority over carbon dioxide injection wells, which are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Arizona has also applied for that same authority from EPA.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
WEF-GenZero aviation initiative aims to boost green fuel uptake in Asia
SINGAPORE - The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Singapore's GenZero launched an initiative on May 5 aimed at boosting regional demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and to bolster the aviation sector's climate credentials. A key mission of the Green Fuel Forward initiative is to scale up production of SAF, which the industry regards as a vital tool to cut the sector's growing greenhouse gas emissions. Governments globally, including Singapore's , have set mandates that map steady increases in the percentage of SAF in plane's fuel tanks in the coming years. 'The only way to get to net zero, or very close to net zero by the middle of the century, is very, very large amounts of SAF,' said Mr Robert Boyd, Boeing's sustainability lead for the Asia-Pacific. More efficient aircraft designs and engines can get perhaps 20 per cent of the way and operations, such as better route planning, another 10 per cent, he told ST at the launch of the initiative during the GenZero Climate Summit 2025 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The summit aims to showcase ways to hasten the decarbonisation of the global economy. Boeing has been actively promoting the use of SAF and the company aims to ensure its commercial aircraft are certified to operate on 100 per cent SAF by 2030, he said. Lack of awareness and higher costs for the greener fuel remain issues for SAF, which is two or three times as expensive as fossil-fuel derived aviation fuel. And in Asia, the world's largest aviation market, demand is not keeping pace with planned production capacity additions in the coming years. 'The Asia-Pacific region has a unique opportunity to lead in sustainable aviation fuels, but unlocking this potential requires stronger demand signals,' said Mr Frederick Teo, chief executive officer of GenZero, an investment platform owned by Temasek. SAF is designed to be a drop-in fuel for planes, needing no new additional infrastructure at airports. Current rules allow up to 50 per cent of SAF to be blended with fossil-fuel based jet fuel. SAF can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel, according to the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has set a long-term aspirational goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions for international aviation by 2050. The fuel is mostly made from waste materials such as used cooking oil and animal fats but can also be made from agricultural residues and even alcohol. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) estimates that SAF will achieve about 65 per cent of the emissions reductions needed for the industry to reach net zero by 2050. And cutting emissions has become increasingly critical, with aviation currently accounting for approximately 2.5 per cent of global CO2 emissions, and possibly doubling or even tripling from 2019 levels by 2050 unless concerted action is taken. Green Fuel Forward is a capacity-building initiative that aims to draw in airlines, refiners, logistics firms, banks and others. A total of 16 companies and organisations have agreed to participate, including Boeing, Climate Impact X, DBS Bank, DHL, the International Energy Agency, Neste, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Temasek and UOB. Singapore Airlines first started using SAF in 2017 on a trial basis and is hoping for greater market participation to drive up demand and push down prices, said chief sustainability officer Lee Wen Fen. The airline regards SAF as key to its decarbonisation goals. A key focus of the initiative is to boost the take-up of SAF certificates by companies to offset their own emissions or the travel emissions of their employees, for example. The certificates can be bought on exchanges, such as Singapore's Climate Impact X, and each is linked to the creation of one tonne of SAF. Certificate buyers can track and claim the environmental benefits, such as emissions reductions, of using SAF without having to purchase the physical fuel. The emissions reduction can be claimed once the tonne of SAF is burned, with the accounting process approved by ICAO. On average, each SAF credit represents a CO2 emissions reduction of 2.5 tonnes to 2.8 tonnes versus conventional fuel. The initiative will organise workshops and practical guidance tools to help organisations navigate topics such as environmental integrity and reporting practices for SAF and SAF certificates. Globally, SAF still comprises a fraction of total jet fuel use. And in the Asia-Pacific, uptake is far slower than in Europe. In 2024, Iata said SAF production reached 1 million tonnes (1.3 billion litres) – or about 0.3 per cent of global jet fuel production. This is double 2023's production of 0.5 million tonnes but far below the initial projections for 2024 of 1.5 million tonnes. Rules mandating SAF usage will drive up demand over time. Flights departing EU airports must now use 2 per cent SAF in their fuel mix, rising to 6 per cent in 2030 and 70 per cent by 2050. For Japan, SAF must account for at least 10 per cent of domestic airlines' jet fuel consumption by 2030. In Singapore, one per cent of all jet fuel used at Changi and Seletar airports must be sustainable, with a goal to reach 3 per cent to 5 per cent by 2030. Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot are among those committed to reaching a goal of 5 per cent sustainable aviation fuel use by 2030. There are other challenges for the industry, including ensuring the environmental integrity of feedstocks, such as land-based feedstock, which can lead to unintended consequences for deforestation, said Temasek's managing director for sustainability, Ms Park Kyung-ah, during a panel discussion at the launch. In Europe and the United States, governments have also expressed concerns about reports of virgin palm oil being fraudulently added to boost used cooking oil supplies to SAF refineries. The EU forbids the use of virgin palm oil as an SAF feedstock. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
