Ali: A Nomad with a Mission to Capture Carbon

In 2008, Ali joined TotalEnergies and 4 years later he was assigned to the company’s headquarters in Paris. Since then, his career has taken him to various countries around the world, and he now works at Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in Norway.

“I’m grateful for the chance to work on so many different projects and to experience so many cultures. Just nine more years like this, and the sweet retirement awaits,” he says with a smile.

Ali Milani at his office, leading TCM’s CO₂ Liquefaction, Transport, and Storage project.

“How did you become part of the TCM team?”

“I’m employed by TotalEnergies, one of the owners of TCM, and joined the center on a secondment.”

“How was your move to Norway?”

“The move itself was straightforward, but establishing residency came with quite a bit of bureaucracy. It took more than six months to get my social security number and open a bank account.”

“What surprised you most about Norwegian culture?”

“I’d been to Norway before and knew people speak excellent English. Work culture is very straightforward, and everyone is polite and helpful. But socially, life can feel a bit isolating — it’s not easy to make friends.”

“What inspired you to work in carbon capture?”

“My background is in petrochemicals and oil and gas, so this was a great opportunity to pivot into something new and good for the planet.”

“How has your education prepared you for your role at TCM?”

“I studied chemical engineering at one of Iran’s top universities. The fundamentals are directly applicable to carbon capture and storage.”

“What’s the most exciting aspect of your job at TCM?”

“Getting things done. There’s always a lot going on, and it’s satisfying to see real progress every day.”

“Can you tell us about the project you’re working on?”

“I’m leading the CO₂ Liquefaction, Transport, and Storage project. We’ve just completed the initial phase and are preparing to enter Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). In under three months, we built the team, issued the tender, and signed the contract — a major achievement. We’re on schedule.”

“What do your family and friends think about your job?”

“Life is good for my family. My work supports us, and they’re happy.”

“What gives you energy at work?”

“Knowing that we’re making progress and that the project is under control.”

“What’s the biggest challenge in your work?”

“We don’t yet have a fully experienced execution team. But there’s a lot of talent here, and we’re learning together. Another challenge is that many team members are part-time due to other priorities. Going forward, we’ll need a fully dedicated project team.”

“If you were to give a flower to a colleague, who would it be—and why?”

“To all of them. Everyone contributes and does a great job.”

“What do you value most in your colleagues at TCM?”

“TCM is a small company with less bureaucracy, which means we can move faster. But above all, it’s the friendliness and collaborative spirit that make a real difference.”

“How do you recharge after a long day?”

“A nap on the bus ride back to Bergen!”

“What advice would you give to someone considering a move to Norway or a career in carbon capture?”

“If you’re interested in CCS, Norway is the best place to be. The country has invested heavily in the field, and the results are impressive. Once you’re settled, life here is peaceful and fulfilling — especially for families. Children also benefit from a great education system.”

“What are your future plans?”

“To keep working hard until retirement — and then travel as much as possible. As an expat, I’ll probably live and work in a few more countries before I wrap up my career, and that sounds great to me.”