Saudi Arabia and Norway have joined forces to capture and store CO₂ gases. The two countries are among the leaders in supplying crude oil for the world market.

“Both Saudi Arabia and Norway are concerned about the environment and want to reduce emissions with all possible means. CO₂ capture and storage is an excellent way to reduce emissions,” said al-Naimi, Saudi Oil Minister to the Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper. “We had very, very useful discussions. I am delighted about the effort that Saudi Arabia will make in this area.”

The precise technology to accomplish this task is still under discussion. The countries also hope to persuade other countries to join their efforts. They hope to get the carbon capture system included in the United Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism program so that carbon credits can be achieved for sale on the open market.

Norway’s oil and gas company StatoilHydro has been burying CO₂ from the natural gas stream below the seabed at Sleipner Field in the North Sea since 1996.