RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation and a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on critical minerals with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and H.E. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, respectively. Secretary Wright signed the documents as a member of the United States delegation led by President Donald J. Trump. The intention to sign the MOU was announced during Secretary Wright’s trip to Saudi Arabia in April of this year. The signings coincided with President Trump’s announcement that he secured a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia.
“President Trump and I are excited to unveil two historic deals between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, advancing our shared vision of global energy addition by better developing our energy resources, growing our energy infrastructure, enhancing our research relationships, and more,” Secretary Wright said. “These deals on energy and critical minerals as well as the historic investment commitments made earlier today, forge powerful partnerships that will ensure President Trump’s vision of prosperity at home and peace abroad is fully realized.”
“I’d like to express my sincere thank you to H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and H.E. Bandar Alkhorayef for weeks of productive dialogue that have made this significant milestone possible. Together, we’re building a future of affordable, reliable, and secure energy for the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and our allies around the world.”
Background:
The MOU for energy cooperation, signed by Secretary Wright and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, explores the potential for innovation, development, deployment of energy infrastructure in the two countries, and providing access to clean cooking solutions in developing countries. The MOU also highlights the intent to collaborate in various fields including petroleum refining and refined products trading, electricity generation technologies and energy storage systems, and artificial intelligence projects to accelerate deployment of energy-driven innovations.
The two sides also outlined areas for cooperation on civil nuclear energy, including safety, security, and nonproliferation programs; vocational training and workforce development; U.S. Generation III+ advanced large reactor technologies and small modular reactors; uranium exploration, mining, and milling; and safe and secure nuclear waste disposal.
The United States and Saudi Arabia also signed a MOC creating a framework for cooperation to strengthen and secure supply chains for critical minerals mining and processing. The two intend to explore joint ventures and investment opportunities, including in refining and processing facilities, and in workforce and research institutions that will ensure continued innovation related to mineral exploration, extraction, and processing. This MOC was signed by Secretary Wright and H.E. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef.
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