Saudi Aramco and the Institute of Energy Economics in Japan (IEEJ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a pre-feasibility study of carbon-free ammonia production in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU exchange ceremony was held in Tokyo, during the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 Business Forum organized by the Saudi-Japan Vision Office, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan External Trade Organization, and the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East.
The ceremony was witnessed by HE Khalid A. Al Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, HE Mohammad Al Tuwaijri, Minister of Economy and Planning, and HE Ibrahim Al Omar, Governor, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.
The ceremony was hosted by HE Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for Japan, as well as top executives from related organizations. More than 200 attendees gathered at the ceremony, ranging from Saudi Arabia and Japanese government officials to Japanese investors, and members of various academia fields.
Promoting partnership
“Today we witness the pivotal MoU signing between Saudi Arabia and the Japanese parties,” Seko stated in his opening remarks. “It is crucial to promote the partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan, leading toward sustainable energy and a carbon-free society.”
His remarks were followed by the MoU exchange ceremony and a photo session with Aramco Asia-Japan representative director Omar Al Amudi, on behalf of Saudi Aramco chief technology officer Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, and IEEJ chairman and CEO Masakazu Toyoda.
The IEEJ is a world-leading think tank in energy and environment, providing objective and factual analyses and recommending appropriate policies based on future energy and environmental outlook.
Saudi Aramco and IEEJ have worked together in recent years exploring the potential use of hydrogen and ammonia with the support of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, which pursues cooperation with oil producing countries to promote the decarbonization of fossil fuels.
Both parties will explore the possibility of carbon-free ammonia production in the Kingdom to enable decarbonization of the energy system and effective use of fossil fuel resources at the same time.