Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
Muscat: A group of Earth scientists at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman has come up with a discovery that promises a breakthrough solution to the issue of carbon emissions on a global level.
According to the lead scientist, peridotite rocks commonly found just under the crust of the earth could soak up the planet’s entire carbon dioxide emissions, even without being mined, when it comes in touch with water.
Sobhi Nasir, the lead scientist and director of Earth Sciences Research Centre at the SQU, says when the peridotite rock comes in contact with water, it reacts with the carbon dioxide and converts the gas into a solid mineral.
“If all goes well, in three years, we will be able to start cutting down carbon emission levels in Oman,” the Earth scientist said, adding that they have plans to export peridotite rocks globally so that everyone can benefit from it.
According to the scientist, peridotite rocks absorb 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year in Oman.
The SQU initially commissioned the research project in 2006, and over 70 scientists and geologists are involved in it.
According to Sobhi, the team will start the drilling operations soon in wadis in Dima wa Tayeen and Mudhaibi provinces to expand the trials.
The project is being supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Canadian Continental Drilling Programme (CCDP) and global science units involved in similar work.
Peridotite is abundant in Oman. There are plenty of places with enough cubic kilometres of peridotite to potentially have a huge impact on the CO2 budget of the Earth. Since the Paris climate agreement in December 2015, pressure has been mounting to try and find alternative ways of generating energy that do not pollute the atmosphere.
As agreed at the Paris meeting, to keep the world’s temperature from rising more than two degree centigrade, more green energy options are being considered by various countries.
