Kenya's Rift Valley hosts breakthrough in underground carbon storage

Cella Mineral Storage and Octavia Carbon have completed a groundbreaking test in Kenya’s Rift Valley. The pilot project injected carbon dioxide deep underground, marking a key step in carbon capture technology. This is only the fourth known case worldwide where CO₂ has been directly stored in geological formations. The test took place in Kenya’s Rift Valley, where roughly half a ton of CO₂ was injected into basalt rock. Unlike other methods, Cella’s approach used pure-phase CO₂ instead of dissolving it in water. This technique cut water usage and lowered operational costs while maintaining high injection rates.

Basalt formations play a crucial role in the process. When CO₂ reacts with the rock, it forms stable minerals, permanently locking the emissions underground. The companies achieved this milestone in under four years, showing how quickly carbon capture technology is advancing. The pilot also introduced a water-alternating-gas injection method. By alternating water and CO₂, the team improved efficiency without needing large amounts of water. This decentralised approach could reduce reliance on expensive transport networks, making carbon storage more accessible in different regions.

The success of this project highlights a growing trend in carbon removal solutions. Pairing atmospheric capture with geological storage offers a permanent way to handle emissions. If scaled up, similar methods could make carbon capture more practical for industries worldwide.