Occidental Petroleum Acquires Carbon Engineering Worth USD 1.1 Billion

Occidental Petroleum has announced its agreement to acquire Carbon Engineering for $1.1 billion, with the aim to leverage carbon-capture sites for environmental benefits. The proclaimed U.S. oil producer has plans to erect around 100 direct air capture (DAC) plants, which will be dedicated to extracting CO2 from the atmosphere. The extracted CO2 is intended for storage or to be used in products such as fuel and concrete.

While the DAC technology is still in its nascent commercial stages and demands considerable investments, President Biden perceives it as a crucial element for emission reduction. Federal grants are anticipated to partially support Occidental's DAC plants in Texas and Louisiana. These plants will be among the first to benefit from a $3.5 billion authorization dedicated to DAC hubs, as reported by Reuters. Occidental and Carbon Engineering have been in collaboration with DAC since 2019. The acquisition is perceived by CEO Vicki Hollub as a move to enhance and streamline this partnership.

Expressing his elation in collaborating with the carbon engineering team, Hollub expounded his optimistic lookout. He believes Occidental and Carbon Engineering can bring about seminal contributions to the environment by deploying DAC technology. The partnership will also foster the belief of firms worldwide to employ the technology to expurgate the otherwise tough-to-evict emissions.

According to Procurement Resource, Occidental Petroleum will acquire Carbon Engineering for $1.1 billion to advance carbon capture. Planning 100 DAC plants for CO2 extraction, aiming to bolster environmental initiatives. Despite DAC's infancy and high costs, President Biden views it as pivotal for emission cuts. Occidental's DAC endeavors in Texas and Louisiana will receive partial federal grant support. The acquisition, building on their 2019 collaboration, is seen by CEO Hollub as a strategic move to deepen their environmental partnership.