DMS Georgia: World’s first deep mine carbon storage

Today is an exciting milestone for us at Rewind: we are launching our DMS Project in the city of Tkibuli, Georgia - the world’s first commercial Deep Mine Storage (DMS) facility, in collaboration with Misha Sotckii, the owner and manager of the mine, and Alexey Koroliov, Rewind’s Operations Manager in Georgia.

For the first time, certified carbon removal credits will be issued by locking away plant-based carbon in a naturally anoxic (oxygen-free) environment. Let’s take a deeper look …

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How it works

DMS, a form of anoxic biomass storage, is a unique approach to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

• Sourcing biomass: First, we source surplus plant matter, such as sawdust and wood offcuts with no commercial value, from certified local sawmills. The plant matter, or biomass, has captured CO2 via photosynthesis and turned it into the organic molecules composing the plant matter. Without our intervention, this biomass would have been left in piles to decompose in the open air, releasing whatever it has captured as CO2 and methane into the atmosphere.
• Injection and sealing: We took inspiration from a process already common in mine reclamation: filling sealed underground chambers with mud to stabilise them. We add biomass to the slurry being injected underground, transforming a standard industrial procedure into a carbon removal solution. 
• Durable, permanent carbon storage: Once the chamber is full, the tunnels leading to it are also backfilled, sealing it away from any oxygen. This means that most of the biomass does not decompose, keeping its carbon molecules locked as solid matter for geological timescales. This process is very similar to how coal was formed.
• Ensuring verification: Meanwhile, every step of the process is tracked by Rewind’s digital measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) system. With our MMRV we ensure each carbon credit issued can be independently and transparently verified.

Using this process, we’ve already successfully stored 400 tons of carbon, and at this site alone, we have the capacity to scale to 50,000 tonnes annual CO₂ removal.

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Why deep mine storage is different

Because we use surplus biomass and adapt existing sites and infrastructure, our DMS model delivers geological timescale permanence with minimal new build requirements and very low energy input - the energy efficiency of our approach is among the highest of any carbon removal method. The result is a form of carbon removal that is both durable, operationally scalable, reasonably priced, and grounded in the Earth’s own natural processes.

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Supporting healthy ecosystems and a just transition

In addition to its carbon impact, DMS Georgia is already creating tangible benefits for the Georgian economy and local communities. The site supports dozens of jobs in operations, logistics, and site management, with more indirect employment through local suppliers and contractors. We’re proud to source 70% of our operational spend locally, benefitting sawmills, transport providers and technical partners.

By 2027, our work is expected to contribute millions of dollars annually to the country’s GDP through wages, procurement, and related economic activity. It also positions Georgia as a global leader in innovative, nature-based carbon removal, making this an opportunity for environmental restoration and long-term regional growth.

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Beyond mines: scaling anoxic biomass storage

Launching Project DMS Georgia is a proud moment, but it is just one part of Rewind’s global strategy to scale carbon removal through geological biomass storage  - preserving surplus plant matter in isolated places, far away from oxygen and the atmosphere.

Our primary focus is now on expanding deep mine storage — including open pit mines, abandoned mines, and quarries — to build a global network of sites capable of delivering large-scale, permanent carbon removal. Alongside this, Rewind continues to progress carbon storage development sites in the Black Sea, and with projects under development aimed at storing biomass under river and port sediment, we are building a global network of anoxic carbon storage sites. By 2030, our goal is to permanently remove one million tonnes of carbon per year. 

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A new standard for carbon removal

DMS Georgia shows that working with nature can deliver real, lasting climate impact. Using existing sites and local partnerships, Rewind is proving that carbon removal can be effective, affordable, and part of everyday infrastructure.

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