Webinar puts focus on partnerships to reduce emissions on projects

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are one of the greatest global challenges, requiring significant attention from virtually every sector and individual on the planet.

Aramco recently hosted “Partnerships toward Green Execution,” a webinar to support its strong ambition to reduce GHG emissions throughout project life cycles — from conceptual design to completion. The webinar featured a number of expert speakers and saw the participation of 143 representatives from Aramco, key construction contractors, subcontractors, design offices, technology providers, and local suppliers.

Collaboration key to success

Having long recognized the importance of tackling emissions, Aramco has already devised an ambitious strategy for reducing its carbon footprint and achieving net-zero construction sites. The strategy’s success relies on collaboration among EPC, construction companies, and energy firms in developing new technologies to reduce emissions. The webinar, sponsored by Aramco’s Project Management, was designed to be the beginning of just such of a collaboration. 

Abdulkarim A. Al-Ghamdi, Aramco’s vice president of Project Management, spoke about Aramco’s strong commitment to minimizing emissions and developing new low carbon solutions. “We have been working on a number of initiatives over the years to better design our facilities and monitor our carbon footprint,” Al-Ghamdi said, adding that the company has also invested broadly in developing critical technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

He cited a number of examples, including low emission electrified equipment and generators at temporary construction camps, as well as waste disposal facilities to incentivize reuse and recycling.

Al-Ghamdi also pointed to the importance of decarbonization opportunities in the future such as recycling construction waste, introducing green concrete, and developing solutions to minimize offshore emissions.

 A continuous effort is required, and collaboration is essential.
— Abdulkarim A. Al-Ghamdi

Experts enhance the conversation

Key speakers from Saipem, Tenderd, Leica Geosystems, and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) joined the online event to share ideas and discussing the major opportunities for decarbonization in the construction industry. 

Among highlights included:

• BCG’s Andreas Kirylis discussing opportunities for decarbonization in construction. Kirylis said that although emissions in a project’s construction phase are expected to increase as operational ones decrease, However, abatement  of the construction impacts should come at a comparatively low cost. The key, he said, will be developing ambitious targets and then redesigning equipment and work flows to optimize the value chain for sustainability.

• Sapiem’s Claudia Attanasio and Andrea Mariotti sharing its steps toward decarbonization at Aramco’s Berri Development Project through initiatives designed to reduce water and energy consumption through such tools as LED light bulbs, installing photovoltaic modules, and deploying solar water heaters. They also noted the use of waste-treatment appliances to convert food waste into fertilizer, and then collaborating with local companies as part of Aramco’s iktva initiative to help reduce emissions.

• Tenderd CEO Arjun Mohhan spoke on how his company has used artificial intelligence (AI) to measure and reduce construction sites’ carbon footprints. He said AI analysis has helped decrease emissions from existing equipment (such as excavators and generators) on construction sites, providing great gains in efficiency and carbon reduction.

• Dmitry Lykov of Leica Geosystems stressed the importance of deploying intelligent construction technologies on project sites, noting automated solutions will increase productivity from equipment and dramatically decrease man-hours and carbon emissions. Lykov added that automation will also increase accuracy and reduce delays, simultaneously reducing a company’s carbon footprint while increasing its competitiveness.

Badr M. Burshaid, manager of Aramco’s Marjan and Zuluf Increment Project Department, said the webinar “recognizes Project Management’s commitment and the important roles of our partners in project execution, as we hope to achieve a net-zero emission in all our projects.”

The webinar ended with the closing remarks from  Aramco Project Management, which highlighted Aramco’s current efforts such as being a member of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and the company’s desire to increasingly engage and collaborate with partners to address climate change.