DUBAI, March 20 (Reuters) - Saudi oil giant Aramco has launched a pilot direct air capture unit able to remove 12 tons of carbon dioxide per year from the atmosphere, it said on Thursday.

Aramco said it expected to declare total dividends of $85.4 billion in 2025, down sharply from last year's payout of over $124 billion, which it said was, however, based on 2023 and 2024 earnings.