The viability of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a Colorado cement plant is being studied by a group of U.S. and foreign corporations.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) and Total SA, together with Svante Inc. and LafargeHolcim, are considering the viability of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) at a cement plant in Colorado.

The project being eyed for LafargeHolcim’s Portland Cement facility in Florence could, if sanctioned, capture up to 725,000 metric tons/year of emissions.

A joint study underway by the partners will evaluate costs and the role of Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) to store the emissions. Svante’s technology would be employed to capture the carbon directly from industrial sources at what is projected to be half the cost of competing solutions.

Total has assigned 10% of the annual research and development budget to making “significant advances” in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). according to Senior Vice President Marie-Noelle Semaria. “The learnings from this study will help us pursue our commitment on CCUS.”

“Pairing carbon capture from a cement plant with CO2 sequestration is a significant step forward for the cement industry in reducing its carbon footprint,” an Oxy spokesperson said. “We’re dedicated to advancing low-carbon solutions that enhance Oxy’s business,” added OLCV President Richard Jackson.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in November launched a year-long process for a proposed 1,150-mile corridor in Wyoming that could lead to pipelines for CCUS and enhanced oil recovery. The Wyoming Pipeline Corridor Initiative would not authorize any new pipelines or construction, but it could amend several BLM resource management plans for future proposals.