Invited Talk Advancing CO2 Storage Readiness: Insights from Asia, Oceania, and the Global Storage Resource Landscape

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is vital for achieving net-zero emissions, but large-scale deployment relies on well-characterised, commercially viable CO2 storage resources. The CO2 Storage Resource Catalogue (CSRC) offers a standardised global repository using the CO2 Storage Resources Management System (SRMS) to ensure consistent evaluation of public resource studies. This final CSRC phase encompasses 129 previously unreviewed countries across Asia, Oceania, Africa, South America, and Europe, bringing the total assessed to 186.

Findings reveal an urgent need for project-level evaluations to unlock storage potential. While global CO2 storage resources exceed 14,000 gigatonnes (Gt), most are classified as Undiscovered or Sub-Commercial. Only 3.1 Gt (less than 0.024%) is linked to commercial projects, and just seven countries report any commercial resource. Asia and Oceania remain underrepresented, with over 65% of countries in this cycle lacking publicly available storage assessments. This gap limits investor confidence and slows CCS’s progress. Yet, Asia is well-positioned to lead CCS, given its industrial scale, rapid energy transition, and growing policy support. For instance, Malaysia’s recent CCUS bill signals a growing momentum for deployment.

This study presents the most comprehensive global storage assessment to date, offering essential insights for policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders.