Southeastern Sicily Emerges as Strategic Mediterranean Hub for Permanent CO₂ Mineral Storage, Study Finds
A new scientific study suggests that southeastern Sicily could become a major Mediterranean hub for permanent carbon dioxide storage, following the identification of multiple geological sites with strong potential for CO₂ mineralisation.
The research, led by Italy’s National Research Council Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources in collaboration with international partners, highlights how the region’s volcanic geology, infrastructure access and proximity to industrial emitters could support large-scale deployment of carbon capture and mineral storage technologies.
According to the study, three key locations — Palagonia, Portopalo di Capo Passero and the Plain of Catania — show particularly strong suitability for long-term CO₂ storage in basaltic rock formations capable of permanently locking carbon dioxide into stable mineral forms.
The findings were developed by researchers working with the Iceland-based company Carbfix and the University of Pisa. The team used a geographic information system-based multi-criteria analysis to evaluate geological, environmental and infrastructure conditions across southeastern Sicily, producing a suitability map for potential storage sites.
Researchers say the region offers a rare combination of favourable subsurface geology and surface-level industrial connectivity, making it well positioned for what is known as carbon capture and mineral storage (CCMS). This approach differs from conventional carbon storage methods by converting injected carbon dioxide into solid minerals through natural chemical reactions, permanently locking it away and reducing the risk of leakage.
The study notes that similar processes have already been demonstrated at industrial scale in Iceland, where more than 95% of injected carbon dioxide has reportedly been mineralised within a short period, providing a reference model for potential deployment in other basalt-rich regions.
Chiara Boschi, a researcher involved in the study, said Sicily’s geological assets could play a meaningful role in broader decarbonisation strategies by linking natural subsurface conditions with industrial carbon emissions. She added that the island could become an important centre for developing new carbon storage value chains aligned with European climate objectives.
Another researcher, Eugenio Trumpy, highlighted that the methodology used in the study is designed to be transferable to other regions, potentially accelerating global identification of suitable carbon mineralisation sites. The approach integrates multiple datasets, including geological structure, water availability, infrastructure access and industrial proximity.
The findings come as European countries explore a growing range of carbon capture and storage options to meet climate targets, including both conventional geological storage and emerging mineralisation-based systems. Carbon mineral storage is increasingly viewed as a potentially durable long-term solution due to its ability to convert carbon dioxide into stable solid compounds rather than relying on pressurised underground reservoirs.
If developed further, southeastern Sicily could play a strategic role in linking industrial emissions sources in southern Europe with permanent geological storage capacity, contributing to the expansion of a wider carbon capture and storage network across the Mediterranean region and the European Union.
