Japan and UAE to deepen cooperation on clean energy

July 18, 2023, by Aida Čučuk

During a Japan-UAE business forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Japan’s Prime Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida affirmed the commitment of both countries to enhancing cooperation on climate action, decarbonization efforts and clean energy.

In a statement, Japan’s PM said the two parties confirmed the importance of stabilizing the energy market, as well as the importance of clean energy such as solar power, hydrogen and ammonia, and important minerals that are indispensable for decarbonization.

Specifically, in order to make the Middle East a global supply hub for clean energy and important minerals by utilizing Japanese technology, Kishida said that Saudi Arabia proposed to launch the Lighthouse Initiative, through which the two countries are expected to break away from their traditional energy relationship and deepen it into a new decarbonization-era partnership.

In addition, under the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030, a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the two countries, Kishida noted they will accelerate cooperation in a wider range of fields, including clean energy.

The PM stated: “The UAE is an important strategic partner for Japan in terms of energy security. I am very happy that the relationship between our two countries is progressing dramatically…”

“In the future, we plan to further expand cooperation in advanced technology fields such as clean energy, green materials, semiconductors, batteries and space, as well as fields such as startups, medical and healthcare, education and cultural exchange.”

“I hope that Japan and the UAE will further strengthen their cooperation and develop strategic partnerships in order to promote a realistic energy transition and accelerate innovation toward the realization of a decarbonized society.”

To note, during the business forum, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and Japan’s Inpex Corporation signed a collaboration agreement to conduct a joint study aimed at realizing the production of synthetic methane (e-methane) using green hydrogen and CO2.