U.A.E., US sign MoU to boost cooperation in the energy field

WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz, and U.A.E.'s Minister of Energy, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reaffirm their commitment to a strong bilateral energy relationship, joint cooperation and exchange of ideas in the areas of energy and the energy-water nexus. The MoU was signed at the beginning of the U.S.-U.A.E. Strategic Energy Dialogue, which was co-chaired by U.A.E. Energy Minister and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy, Daniel Poneman, yesterday in Washington D.C. This meeting follows the inaugural Strategic Energy Dialogue hosted by the U.A.E. in Abu Dhabi in June 2014. The Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and the U.A.E. creates a framework for cooperation in the areas of energy and the energy-water nexus, and facilitates sharing technical knowledge, skills and expertise. Planned cooperation will initially focus on five areas, including energy policy formulation, energy efficiency, the energy-water nexus, carbon capture and storage, and unconventional oil and gas development. At the meeting, the U.S. and U.A.E. agreed on milestones and specific timelines to tackle the five areas of the MoU. Both delegations agreed to hold the next Strategic Energy Dialogue in Abu Dhabi in early 2015. The two sides also reiterated their shared interest in monitoring global oil markets and discussed initiatives to promote public and private sector partnerships, and to support U.A.E.’s emerging civilian nuclear power sector. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395270357507.html