IMO Backs On-Board Carbon Mineralisation as Permanent CO₂ Storage Method

## IMO Backs On-Board Carbon Mineralisation as Permanent CO₂ Storage Method The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has extended its support in principle to a proposal recognising on-board carbon mineralisation as a legitimate form of permanent CO₂ storage, in a development that could accelerate the adoption of shipboard carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology across the global fleet. The proposal, led by Shanghai Qiyao Technology Group Co., Ltd., received the IMO's backing as the organisation continues to tighten its decarbonisation framework ahead of its 2050 net-zero ambition. The endorsement signals a meaningful shift in how regulators are beginning to classify and credit emerging carbon abatement technologies deployed directly on vessels. According to a PR Newswire release dated 25 June 2026, the IMO's support in principle marks a pivotal step for the shipping industry's approach to hard-to-abate emissions. Carbon mineralisation — a process by which captured CO₂ is converted into stable mineral compounds — has been proposed as a more permanent and verifiable alternative to conventional carbon capture methods that rely on liquefied CO₂ storage and subsequent offloading at port. ### Why This Matters For shipowners and operators navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment, the IMO's recognition of on-board carbon mineralisation as a permanent storage pathway could open new compliance routes under the organisation's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) framework and future market-based measures. Unlike approaches that require dedicated port-side CO₂ reception infrastructure, mineralisation technology has the potential to simplify the carbon capture value chain by eliminating the need for CO₂ offloading logistics. Shanghai Qiyao Technology Group, a Chinese industrial technology conglomerate, has positioned itself at the forefront of this emerging field. The company's IMO submission represents one of the more technically ambitious proposals to emerge from the Asia-Pacific region in the current regulatory cycle. ### Broader Decarbonisation Context The IMO's 2023 Revised Strategy set a course for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, with interim targets requiring a 20–30% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2008 levels. Shipboard carbon capture has been identified as one of several transitional technologies that could help bridge the gap while zero-emission fuels scale up. While the IMO's support remains at the principle stage — meaning further technical and regulatory work will be required before formal adoption — industry observers are likely to view this development as a positive signal for investment in on-board CCS research and commercialisation. *Source: PR Newswire / Shanghai Qiyao Technology Group Co., Ltd.*