Carbon Capture: Why Technological Realism is the Only Viable Transition

Throughout my 30-year career in the global energy sector—from managing field operations in Nigeria and the Caspian Sea to directing strategic investments in Latin America—I have learned one fundamental lesson: complex problems require complex solutions, not simple promises.

Today, the global debate on climate change often falls into a dangerous dichotomy: either we eliminate hydrocarbons immediately, or we condemn the planet. However, there is a third way, one that requires less rhetoric and more engineering: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Energy Transition Requires Pragmatism, Not Ideology

As a petroleum engineer and entrepreneur specialized in the energy sector, I am a staunch advocate for a grounded energy transition. We cannot ignore that the world continues to need secure and affordable energy to develop. Therefore, CCS technology should not be viewed as an excuse to continue polluting, but rather as a pragmatic tool to make our industry more efficient as we transition toward cleaner sources.

The premise is clear: it is not necessarily about ceasing production, but about producing without leaving an environmental footprint.

Carbon Capture Technology Already Exists: The Challenge is Scale

Technically, the CO₂ capture and storage process is viable and proven. Whether through post-combustion, pre-combustion, or oxy-fuel combustion, we have the capability to capture carbon dioxide at industrial sources and transport it via pipelines to deep geological formations for permanent storage.

Projects like Northern Lights in Norway, which plans to inject captured CO₂ into deep saline aquifers, prove that this is not science fiction. The technology exists. The challenge lies in scaling it economically and deploying it globally.

The Strategic Role of the Oil Industry in the Climate Solution

It is ironic that while many demonize the sector, it is precisely the major oil companies—such as ExxonMobil, Shell, and Aramco—that are leading the investment and development of this technology. They understand that CCS could become a new business model in itself.

Europe has realized that capturing carbon is not an option, but an obligation to maintain industrial competitiveness while meeting its climate goals for 2050. The European Commission projects achieving a storage capacity of up to 280 million tons annually by 2040.

The Gap Between Europe and Latin America in CCS Technology

However, progress in carbon capture is not homogeneous. While Europe sets ambitious targets, in Latin America and in countries with great geological potential like Spain, we are moving slowly.

The Case of Spain: Untapped Potential

Spain, for instance, has an enviable natural advantage due to the CO₂ absorption capacity of its forests, yet it lacks a comprehensive technological strategy to complement that natural capacity. The balance between biological and technological capture will be the key to European success.

In our Latin American region, the lack of clear regulatory frameworks and fiscal incentives makes CCS seem like a distant idea. It is urgent to develop an ecosystem that supports these investments because, without them, the energy transition becomes an unsustainable economic burden for emerging economies.

Conclusion: A Future Without Climate Hypocrisy

Betting on CO₂ sequestration is betting on a realistic energy transition. This technology is a critical piece of the puzzle that can coexist perfectly with renewable energy and electrification.

We must stop viewing oil as the absolute enemy and start focusing on how to make it cleaner and more efficient.

Sustainability is not achieved through magical bans, but through tangible innovation. Carbon capture offers us the opportunity to maintain the economic growth needed to lift millions out of poverty, without sacrificing the planet's future.

It is time to put moral debates aside and put engineering to work.

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About the author:

Jorge Miroslav Jara Salas is a global energy expert with over 30 years of experience leading complex operations in the petroleum industry. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Magnaccord Group SL, a company specialized in strategic investments in Latin America's energy sector.

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