UAE-Japan Dignitaries reviewed the urgent need for carbon neutrality, accelerating its progress and other collaborative measures before COP28 which will be organized in Dubai in the latter half of 2023.
In September 2022, UAE and Japan signed a comprehensive economic partnership, and as a part of the framework, the two nations inked new agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) that will facilitate energy transition and technological adoption in various sectors. The deal was signed by the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE special envoy to Japan and Cop28 president-designate, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
The dignitaries met to discuss new opportunities and strengthen the relationship between Japan and UAE. They discussed the potential of the hydrogen sector as a key component in the energy transition. Additionally, they reviewed the urgent need for carbon neutrality, accelerating its progress and other collaborative measures before COP28 which will be organized in Dubai in the latter half of 2023. An MoU was also signed between Masdar, a global leader in sustainable development and renewable energy from Abu Dhabi, and the Japanese company JERA. Regarding the areas of green hydrogen and renewable energy.
Moving on from sustainability and energy transition, the two nations also signed MoUs for technological advancements. UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, signed agreements for collaboration in the field of industry and advanced technology. These will also explore joint investment opportunities and solidify partnerships between Emirati and Japanese companies. Such agreements will pave the way for further collaborative measures to expedite the adoption of advanced technologies that will support both countries’ industrial goals and carbon reduction targets. To find new ways of manufacturing ammonia, ADNOC and Tsubame BHB signed a joint study agreement to carry out research and development.
The economic partnership between the UAE and Japan focuses on the areas of business, trade, energy and industry, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid efforts. The countries are also striving to encourage different sections ranging from technology, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and manufacturing to education, defense, security, agriculture, climate change, and environmental preservation.
UAE goes strong on sustainability efforts, signs energy deals with other nations in 2023
In January 2023, the UAE signed a deal with Britain to enhance strategic and technical cooperation in the energy sector. Britain’s Business and Energy Secretary, Grant Shapps, visited Abu Dhabi to sign a Clean Energy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. This agreement focuses on cooperation on hydrogen technology, peaceful nuclear energy, clean energy, and renewable energy, as well as boosting the energy sector and sharing technology, expertise, and knowledge.
Crude oil storage UAE also signed deals similar to that of Japan and the UK with Korea. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea, signed several agreements, including one related to hydrogen energy’s use in cities, its production, transmission, and storage signed by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. President Yeol believes that this collaboration will aid in stabilizing the global energy market. Moreover, ADNOC and the Korean Oil Company entered an agreement for “strategic and commercial storage” of crude oil.
India is also close to signing a major agreement on renewable energy, as announced by Union Minister for Power and New Renewable Energy RK Singh. This agreement will focus on the interconnection between the UAE electricity grid, and the Indian grid, under the One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 13 January 2023, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on green hydrogen development produced using renewable energy.