Saudi Arabia has signed three agreements to strengthen energy cooperation, advance climate action and expand access to clean cooking solutions, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as part of the 25th World Petroleum Congress (WPC) Energy Congress in Riyadh.

The agreements were signed during Energy Week, which runs through October 15, in the presence of Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The Ministry of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Energy Forum (IEF), while the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) signed an MoU with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy and an agreement with the US-based Bettering Human Lives Foundation.

The ministry’s agreement with the IEF aims to strengthen cooperation across the energy sector, covering sustainable clean energy practices, related technologies, climate change mitigation and the application of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) approach.

The MoU also supports the Regional CCE Cooperation Initiative and climate-related outreach at regional and international levels.

The partnership will strengthen the IEF’s engagement with the initiative, promote continued dialogue and build on existing research, including the forum’s report, Empowering Sustainable Futures: MENA NDCs Climate Action. The report examines progress on nationally determined contributions and provides a regional assessment of climate action across the Middle East and North Africa.

The agreement was signed by Faisal Al-Mousa, director general of the ministry’s General Department for Clean Hydrocarbon Technologies Support, and IEF Secretary General Jassim Al-Shirawi.

In a separate development, the OSP signed an MoU with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy to promote sustainable energy access and expand clean cooking solutions. The agreement was signed by OSP Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Al-Tayyar and Sierra Leone Deputy Minister of Energy Abdul Rahim Jalloh.

The partnership will explore renewable energy projects, hydrocarbon-based solutions for transport infrastructure and fuels, and initiatives to improve access to clean cooking technologies.

It also provides for the development and implementation of integrated plans to expand access to LPG, renewable energy and other clean cooking options, alongside awareness campaigns highlighting the contribution of clean cooking to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The two sides will seek to encourage international cooperation and investment in clean cooking fuels, technologies and associated value chains. They will also explore ways to help households access suitable solutions, including LPG, electricity support, energy-efficiency certificates and other cooking alternatives.

The third agreement, signed by the OSP and the Bettering Human Lives Foundation, focuses on expanding clean cooking solutions using LPG.

Al-Tayyar signed the agreement with the foundation’s Executive Director Anne Hyre. The partnership aims to align priorities, identify areas of mutual interest and develop potential frameworks for implementing joint initiatives.

Planned areas of cooperation include integrated projects to support LPG market growth, community-based initiatives led by women, and campaigns to improve safety awareness and build public confidence in clean fuels.

The agreement also provides for exchanging expertise, assessing solutions suited to end users and target communities, and identifying opportunities to expand the LPG ecosystem.

Further cooperation may involve studies, workshops, roundtables, seminars and international conferences to consider local and international regulatory perspectives.

Together, the three agreements highlight Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen international energy partnerships, support climate-related initiatives and promote practical solutions for sustainable energy access, with particular emphasis on expanding clean cooking options in underserved communities. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service