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ABU DHABI / WAM
The United Arab Emirates and the United States of America on Wednesday reaffirmed their shared commitment to a strong bilateral relationship. The commitment was made during the UAE-US Strategic Energy Dialogue held at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy in Abu Dhabi.
Confirming the agreement, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Industry, and the US Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding renewing the commitment of the two parties two parties’ commitment to the Strategic Energy Dialogue. They agreed to move forward joint efforts for expanded cooperation related to development and trade in conventional and unconventional oil, gas and coal, including liquefied natural gas; as well as to technologies related to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), civil nuclear energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The dialogue emphasised US cooperation with the emerging civilian nuclear power sector in the UAE and the commitment of both countries to the development of safe, secure and responsible nuclear power in compliance with international agreements and commitments in coordination with the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation.
During the dialogue, the UAE Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy discussed the importance of addressing energy security challenges through public and private sector partnerships and investment to support the development and deployment of all forms of energy and technologies, as well as mutual bilateral and multilateral initiatives.
The participants launched a new area of activity within the framework of the dialogue devoted to an exchange of information related to the clean coal component of the UAE Energy Strategy. The two ministers noted that growing US. LNG exports could provide an option for an additional source of gas supply to the region.
The two ministers also recognised the cooperative work with Masdar on energy-efficient water desalination pilot plants and with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) on the first Solar Decathlon Middle East, due to take place in November 2018 in Dubai.
At the conclusion of the dialogue, both Al Mazrouei and Perry agreed that the strategic energy dialogue between the two countries is crucial for further energy cooperation and represents a key element of the broader UAE-US partnership. Perry offered to host the next dialogue in Washington, DC, next year.