ADIO, Partanna partner to decarbonise concrete industry

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has teamed up with Partanna, a Bahamian climate tech company, to establish its regional headquarters and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the emirate.

ADIO will support Partanna’s efforts to revolutionise the $400bn global cement industry by enabling the establishment of its large-scale manufacturing operations in Abu Dhabi, which will serve the regional market.

Under the deal, Partanna will generate Verra-certified carbon credits, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions in line with Abu Dhabi’s climate objectives.

Cement production accounts for nearly 9 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, with traditional manufacturing methods ranking among the largest contributors to climate change. Partanna’s innovative approach to cement production presents a scalable solution by replacing carbon-intensive clinkering with magnesium compounds sourced from brine—a by-product of desalination.

The process not only transforms waste into a valuable resource but also delivers a cost-competitive product.

Partanna’s new facility in Abu Dhabi will convert waste brine into carbon-negative cement, not only neutralising emissions but actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, transforming concrete into a carbon sink.

The new Abu Dhabi facility will produce up to 3 million tonnes of Partanna binder annually, representing 10 per cent of the UAE’s cement market and paving the way for regional and global expansion. Partanna’s production capacity would have a carbon impact equivalent to that of the Borneo Rainforest, offsetting approximately 7.98 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

The facility will act as Partanna’s flagship operation and regional headquarters. It is designed as a franchisable model that can be replicated worldwide, enabling rapid adoption in other high-growth regions.

Founded by three-time NBA Champion Rick Fox, Partanna has been supported by Abu Dhabi through its participation in the specialist ClimateTech ecosystem at Hub71. Since its launch two years ago, the company has attracted customers in the UAE, the Bahamas, the US, and Europe.

Partanna’s Abu Dhabi facility is expected to begin operations in 2025. It will leverage the emirate’s infrastructure and sustainable energy initiatives.

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