CO2 Mineralized Concrete for Tuas Port, Singapore

The Tuas Port Phase One development in Singapore demonstrates how material selection can be a primary driver of decarbonization, particularly through the adoption of low-carbon construction materials. As part of Singapore’s vision to develop the world’s largest fully automated port, PSA Corporation has sourced concrete from Pan-United (Pan-United, 2023) to integrate CO2 mineralized concrete across key infrastructure elements, including berths and container stacking yards.

In February 2023, Pan-United announced planned supply of approximately 360,000 m3 of CO2-mineralized concrete with green cement for Tuas Port over 2.5 years (Pan-United, 2023). This represents a shift toward reducing embodied carbon emissions at the design stage, rather than focusing solely on operational emissions after construction. By embedding sustainability directly into material selection, the project aligns with broader strategies targeting lifecycle emissions in infrastructure development.

CO2-mineralized concrete is produced using carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology, where captured CO2 is converted into stable mineral form within the concrete. The company estimated that the combined supply of mineralized concrete and green cement would avoid more than 113.8 million kg of CO2 emissions, which it equated to removing 24,500 cars from the road or planting 1.9 million trees (Pan-United, 2023). This forecast is not a measurement of CO2 stored in the concrete or confirmation of completed delivery. The estimate does not separate CO2 stored by mineralization from emissions avoided by using less cement, and it does not show that the concrete is a net carbon sink.

Pan-United states that the concrete has higher strength characteristics than conventional concrete (Pan-United, 2023). Supplier strength data do not by themselves demonstrate service-life durability in marine exposure.

A critical insight from this case study is the importance of intervening at the design and construction phase, where embodied carbon decisions have the greatest impact. Unlike operational carbon, which can be managed through energy efficiency measures post-construction, upfront (product and construction stage) emissions from materials are largely fixed once construction is complete; maintenance, repair and end-of-life emissions still occur later. This highlights material selection as a front-loaded opportunity for emission reduction, reinforcing the value of low-carbon alternatives such as CO2 mineralized concrete.

The Tuas Port project also reflects the integration of industry innovation into green building standards and certification frameworks. The Building and Construction Authority's Green Mark 2021 Whole Life Carbon Technical Guide lists the use of carbon mineralization technologies as an example under its Innovation section (BCA, 2021, p. 35). This recognizes the technology type; it does not award points automatically or certify Tuas Port. Such recognition can support the adoption of low-carbon materials and provides a pathway for broader industry uptake.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the initiative illustrates how material innovation contributes to industrial capability and leadership. Pan-United’s development of CO2 mineralized concrete is an example of local industry developing lower-carbon construction technology that can support national decarbonization goals.

Importantly, the case study highlights a shift in material selection philosophy, from prioritizing cost and availability to considering carbon performance and environmental impact as key decision criteria. By adopting advanced materials with integrated carbon reduction capabilities, Tuas Port provides an example of carbon performance used as a selection criterion.

Overall, the Tuas Port Phase One project demonstrates that low-carbon material selection is a critical enabler of sustainable infrastructure. Through the use of CO2 mineralized concrete, the project is expected to reduce upfront emissions, based on the supplier's forecast. Measured outcomes and long-term performance data were not found in the sources reviewed.