The United Arab Emirates and Britain have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance strategic and technical cooperation in the energy sector.
The Clean Energy MoU was signed during a visit by Britain's Business and Energy Secretary, Grant Shapps, to Abu Dhabi. Britain's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said the MoU (signed on behalf of the UAE by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, His Excellency Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroue) would facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge, advice, skills and expertise, opening up new avenues for cooperation between the UAE and Britain on energy and climate, while boosting jobs and investment in the UK.
Indeed, the new MoU expands on a 2018 MOU on energy cooperation signed between Britian and the UAE, by encompassing a full scope of bilateral co-operation, including in the new low carbon super fuel hydrogen. This builds on ADNOC – the UAE’s largest energy company – taking a 25% stake in the design stage of BP’s blue hydrogen project, H2Teesside, last year.
Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said:
"The UK is immensely proud of its longstanding relationship with the UAE. Today’s latest agreements provide further evidence that not only are we are strengthening our energy security and lowering bills for consumers in the long term, we’re unlocking huge opportunities for investment in British expertise and jobs in the process.
International cooperation on energy and climate with close partners like the UAE is vital and as they take centre stage as hosts of COP28 later this year, they will have our full support every step of the way."