Saudi Aramco and Showa Shell to launch Solar Project

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, June 30, SPA -- Saudi Aramco and Japan’s
Showa Shell have signed a letter of intent to study the feasibility
of generating power from the sun, using proprietary Showa Shell
technology in a pilot project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Khalid G. Al-Buainain, Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President for
Refining, Marketing & International; and Shigeya Kato, Chairman of
Showa Shell; signed the letter of intent on June 12, 2009, in Tokyo,
according to a report carried today by Saudi Aramco's web-site.

The pilot project also enjoys the firm support of the Japanese
government and its Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

On his part, Toru Ishida, Director General of METI’s Agency for
Natural Resources and Energy, welcomed the agreement and affirmed the
ministry’s backing of the initiative.

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