US fosters deeper energy cooperation and explores new partnership opportunities

United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright met UAE energy, technology and investment leaders at ADNOC headquarters (HQ) in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to reinforce the growing ties between both nations, deepen collaboration and explore new partnership opportunities, during his first official overseas trip since assuming office.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, Chairman of Masdar and Executive Chairman of XRG, greeted Secretary Wright and Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE, at the ADNOC headquarters. They were joined by His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and senior energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and investment leaders.

During the visit, Secretary Wright was briefed on XRG, ADNOC’s new transformational international investment company, which is actively exploring significant investments in the US. XRG is investing in projects across the energy value chain – from gas and infrastructure to chemicals and low-carbon solutions.

“It is an honour for the UAE to host Secretary Chris Wright on his first international visit since assuming office, which follows the successful UAE delegation visit to Washington D.C in March led by His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said.

“In a dynamic global energy market, the UAE and US share a common goal of driving energy abundance, unlocking the power of AI to enhance cost-competitiveness, while deepening partnerships on cutting-edge technologies and creating new opportunities through a pro-growth, pro-investment, pro-energy and pro-people approach,” he added.

Following the meeting with the UAE’s AI and energy leaders, Secretary Wright toured ADNOC’s world-class AI centre, where he was shown how the company is integrating AI from the control room to the boardroom to enhance safety, maximise value, and reduce emissions to support ADNOC’s mission to become the world’s most AI-enabled energy company, in order to maintain cost competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

As part of the visit, Dr. Al Jaber and Secretary Wright co-hosted the Future Energy Leaders Majlis, establishing dialogue with young engineers, scientists, technicians, technologists and analysts. Young Americans and Emiratis from ADNOC, ENEC, Masdar and XRG, together with representatives from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure came together to discuss how they can seize a pivotal moment in history, where the world increasingly views energy as a driver of global progress and prosperity.

Senior energy leaders who also attended the meeting included Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar; Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Upstream CEO; Khaled Salmeen, ADNOC Downstream CEO and XRG COO; Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight; Mansoor Mohamed Al Hamed, Managing Director and CEO of Mubadala Energy; Dr. Bakheet Al Katheeri, CEO of Mubadala UAE Investments Platform, and Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting Managing Director of AIQ.

US to sign energy investment agreements with Saudi Arabia

During the second leg of his tour of the Gulf, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday that the US and Saudi Arabia will sign a preliminary agreement to cooperate over the development of a civil nuclear industry, as well as other energy investments, Reuters reported. 

Secretary Wright also praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership for fostering robust energy cooperation between the two countries, and expressed his gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman for supporting energy partnership with the US. Also on the discussion agenda were renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen and solar power and the need for long-term investments to meet rising global demand, the Saudi Press Agency reported.