MEA Governments, Investors Drive Carbon Capture Expansion

Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) is increasingly recognized as a crucial technology for decarbonizing heavy industries in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), where fossil fuel use and industrial emissions dominate. The International Energy Agency highlights CCUS as essential for meeting global climate goals, with MEA positioned to deploy the technology at scale due to its reliance on energy-intensive sectors. Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the government’s plan to auction new oil blocks has sparked concerns about escalating environmental damage, human rights violations, and the risk of turning a major carbon sink into a 'carbon bomb,' prompting calls from activists and international allies for a moratorium on oil exploration. Contrarily, some voices like Texas oil billionaire Ben Brigham and activist Alex Epstein oppose public funding for carbon capture technologies, arguing against the existence of a climate crisis and viewing such incentives as undue support to oil companies. This tension reflects the broader global debate on climate strategies, where advocates emphasize CCUS for emissions reduction and economic competitiveness, while critics question the science and political motives behind climate policies. The discourse reveals a complex intersection of environmental urgency, economic interests, and political ideologies shaping the future of energy and climate action.