A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by carbon negative concrete pioneer Partanna with Saudi-based developer Red Sea Global. The MoU was signed at COP27 and, as part of the agreement, the parties are exploring an arrangement for Partanna to establish production facilities on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
The MoU comes just four days after Partanna announced a partnership with the Government of the Bahamas to build the world’s first carbon-negative housing development.
Partanna’s concrete technology is said to avoid carbon emissions, absorb carbon from the atmosphere and generates tradeable carbon credits. Partanna is as durable, versatile and scalable as traditional cement. Its use of brine as a core ingredient also brings unique benefits to the Middle East, where desalination plants can harvest more fresh water per litre processed and provide Partanna with the rest, the firm said in a statement.
“It’s time for action. Whilst others use COP27 to talk and promote themselves, we’re here to do business with developers who share our vision of changing how the world builds. We’re moving quick because humanity can’t afford to wait. Red Sea Global share our vision and wanted to move quickly to make it a reality. We’re delighted to strike up an agreement with one of the world’s most ambitious and innovative developers and see this as the start of our work in the Middle East,” said Rick Fox, former Los Angeles Lakers and actor, Co-Founder of Partanna Global.
Rick Fox, Founder of Partanna Bahamas
Concrete is one of the most destructive materials on earth, with 9% of worldwide man-made emissions associated with its production. It’s also the world’s most widely used building materials – with the Middle East and North Africa accounting for 21% of cement production in 2021, Partanna explained.
Commenting on the agreement, Carlos M. Duarte, Distinguished Professor at King Abdullah University and Technology stated, “I am delighted to see Partanna and Red Sea Global announce a collaborative program today. Partanna has developed ground-breaking technology to produce concrete that absorbs CO2 and is, therefore, climate positive. However, most importantly, they have developed a system that mimics how corals, the great cement producers of the biosphere, do it, as they incorporate brine as an essential feed stock of Partanna concrete.”
“This is a game changer, as the Arabian Peninsula produces about 60% of the world’s brine and we were lacking a solution to avoid delivering it to the ocean, where it may impact marine life. With Partanna and Red Sea Global working together, RSG buildings will be climate positive and embody brine, to make them more resistant, and conserve marine life. A win-win for the RSG, Partanna, the ocean and the planet. Most importantly, this is inspired by our beautiful corals!”
In October 2022, Red Sea Global confirmed its new brand identity and mandate.
John Pagano, Group Chief Executive Officer, Red Sea Global
RSG is the developer behind two giga regenerative tourism projects in Saudi Arabia – The Red Sea and AMAALA. Both will be completely off-grid and powered by 100% renewable solar energy. The Red Sea is set to welcome first guests early next year when the first three hotels and international airport open. A further 13 resorts will complete by early 2024. The first phase of AMAALA will comprise nine hotels, delivering 1,300 hotel rooms. It is on track for completion in 2024, the statement noted.
John Pagano, Group Chief Executive Officer of Red Sea Global commented, “Through this partnership with Partanna, RSG is continuing its efforts to accelerate green technologies that can lead the world to a more sustainable and even regenerative future. We are on track to be carbon neutral from day one of operations at The Red Sea when we welcome our first guests in early 2023. This material, which can be manufactured utilising recycled raw materials, and which can generate carbon credits, could be key to achieving our even more ambitious goal of creating carbon negative tourism destinations.”
RSG’s approach toward responsible development that prioritises people and planet, has seen the company explore and implement experimental technologies and pilot programmes to solve some of the world’s most complex and pressing challenges, such as off-site manufacturing and modular construction methods at scale, destination-wide clean mobility strategies, and sustainable food production through new farming approaches, the statement concluded.
In early November 2022, RSG appointed Reem Emirates Saudi for façade works on RSI Airport.