U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry was received by H.E. Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two parties discussed means to enhance the relations between the two countries in the energy fields, including cooperation opportunities in clean energy. In this regard, the Minister and the Secretary signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for mutually beneficial cooperation in the area of clean fossil fuels and carbon management.
“After a productive and informative visit to the Kingdom, today the United States and our friend Saudi Arabia enter an exciting new phase in our energy partnership, building on our collective success with an eye to the future,” said Secretary Perry. “This MOU outlines a future alliance not only in supercritical carbon dioxide, but also in a range of clean fossil fuels and carbon management opportunities. Together through the development of clean energy technologies our two countries can lead the world in promoting economic growth and energy production in an environmentally responsible way. I thank Minister Al Falih and the rest of my Saudi hosts for their hospitality and look forward to working together in the months and years to come.”
Also commenting on the visit, H.E. Al Falih said: “As I thank HE Secretary Perry for this important visit, I would like to express my deep gratitude for his continuous support to the cooperation between the two friendly countries in the energy fields. The potential of this cooperation has no limits and its positive impact on the global economy, environment, and energy supplies is so great. The signing of this MOU reflects one of the valuable opportunities this cooperation can avail.”
“The MOU also underscores the Kingdom’s leadership role in clean energy deployment at scale, venturing, and international collaborations to advance innovation in clean energy technology. This also highlights the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining its national contributions on enhancing clean energy technologies that would enable sustainable development in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the national economic diversification plan, and fulfill its responsibilities as a global energy producer and exporter,” said Minister Al Falih.
Al Falih also pointed that to achieve the objective outlined in the MOU, the two countries will exchange experts, engineers, and scientists, along with facilitate the transfer of technology. The MOU will also encourage the organisation of joint seminars and workshops, as well as visits by experts to facilities, such as research laboratories, institutes, and industrial sites.
The MOU covers many technical fields in this regard including supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles; carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS); chemical looping and oxy-combustion; the energy-water nexus, as well as other areas of mutual interest related to clean fossil fuels and carbon management.
