Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry has stated that the Kingdom and Japan have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) in the fields of the circular carbon economy, carbon recycling, clean hydrogen, and fuel ammonia.

The memorandum of cooperation was signed by Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Japanese Industry Minister Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is currently visiting the Kingdom.

Under the MoC, the two countries will accelerate the use of hydrogen in transport, promote research and development of hydrogen and fuel ammonia technologies as well as their use at the local, bilateral, regional, and international levels.

According to the statement, “The two countries will also explore possibilities of conducting a joint study or pilot project that accelerates the deployment of such technologies as direct air capture, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) or carbon recycling and low carbon fuels such as e-fuel, gaseous fuels, methane, fuels derived from CO2 and methanol.”

The two ministers held the first ministerial meeting of the Saudi-Japanese energy dialogue in Riyadh, the Energy Ministry said on Twitter.

During the meeting, they both stressed the importance of supporting the stability of global oil markets by encouraging dialogue and cooperation between producers and consumers.

The two ministers also highlighted the need to ensure safe supplies from all energy sources to global markets and noted that the kingdom is “the largest dependable source” of crude oil supplies to Japan and “a reliable partner in this aspect” as well, as per the statement.