US Energy Secretary to Visit Saudi Arabia and UAE for Climate Cooperation Talks

KSA, 11 May, 2024 : U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is set to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next week to focus on climate cooperation and other key issues, according to two Biden administration officials.

Granholm's trip, scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday, marks her first visit to the region as secretary, with the UAE being her initial destination.

The visit aims to strengthen the ongoing engagement between the U.S. and the region, particularly advancing climate cooperation and diversifying the energy economy.

Granholm will attend a meeting of the Net-Zero Producers Forum, comprising countries representing 40% of global oil and gas production, including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

The forum focuses on cutting emissions through measures like methane abatement and clean energy deployment, established in 2021

While both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are members of OPEC, discussions during the Net-Zero meeting will not touch on oil policy, as per sources.

Separate talks between the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are underway, primarily concerning U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance.

However, discussions regarding an Israel-Saudi normalization deal are not on Granholm's agenda, with negotiations led by White House officials and the State Department.

Source : www.zawya.com