Occidental to utilise carbon dioxide in bioethylene plant
US oil and gas firm to expand partnership with Cemvita Factory to commercialise process
Houston-based oil and gas independent Occidental Petroleum is to help fund and construct a pilot plant to manufacture bioethylene using captured CO2. Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV), a subsidiary of Occidental, and bioengineering startup Cemvita Factory are to scale up a laboratory process that transforms an organic compound, water, CO2 and light into bioethylene. Ethylene is usually produced from a range of hydrocarbon feedstocks. “Process is cost-competitive with other methods” Karimi, Cemvita Factory The plant will produce 12t/yr of bioethylene after starting up in 2022. The firms hope to expand their use of the technology to remove 1bn t of CO2 from the carbon cycle cumulatively b
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined






