France’s Minister of Energy Transition, Ms. Agnès Panet-Roncher, described that Saudi Arabia plays the role of a regional engine within the framework of the “Green Middle East Initiative”. During her interview with Okaz, she explained that France is willing to work with the Kingdom to achieve this goal, through partnerships between the two countries, especially in light of the preparations for the COP28 conference.
The minister stated that French companies are committed to the energy transition, participating in major Saudi carbon removal projects, and contributing to economic diversification within the framework of Vision 2030.
• What is the purpose of your visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
A: This is my first visit to Saudi Arabia in my capacity as Minister of Transition in the field of energy, at the invitation of the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who has many ambitious projects in the transition sector in the field of renewable energy, especially in the fields of renewable energy, hydrogen and nuclear energy.
• France has set itself the goal of becoming the first carbon-neutral industrialized country, how so?
•• across two points; The first is to reduce energy consumption, and the second is by accelerating the production of carbon-free energy, with the clear goal of abandoning fossil fuels, and this passes by re-launching the nuclear energy network, through the construction of six high-power reactors in particular, and the intensive development of renewable energy. That is why we are investing heavily, through the France 2030 Plan, which aims specifically to develop new modular nuclear reactors and also to keep pace with the hydrogen sector.
I praise Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2060, and launched the “Saudi Green Initiative” in 2021. It also plays the role of regional engine within the framework of the “Green Middle East Initiative”, and France wishes to work with it to achieve this goal, through partnership, especially in preparation for a conference COP28.
Milestones in the history of bilateral relations
• How would you describe the relationship between the two countries in the field of energy?
After the visit of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to Jeddah in December 2021, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman made two visits to Paris, and during his last visit, he participated in the summit for a new global financial pact, which was held on June 22 and 23. It aimed to propose a new model to reduce inequalities and climate change and to protect biodiversity.
Last February, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Catherine Colonna, and the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, signed a memorandum of understanding on energy, reaffirming energy’s fundamental position at the heart of the bilateral relationship. Finally, in the field of energy, French companies, especially the companies that accompany me during this visit, are fully committed to the energy transition, and as such, they are participating in Saudi Arabia’s major projects for decarbonization and economic diversification within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.
A fruitful presence of French industrialists in the Kingdom
• What is your visit program?
•• I will meet with the Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, renewable energy and hydrogen. On the one hand, I commend the important position occupied by French industrialists in the field of renewable energy in the Kingdom, with the wind energy project in Dumat al-Jandal, the largest farm Wind energy production in the Middle East, and the solar power plant project in southern Jeddah, where EDF renouvelables is a major partner. On the other hand, Total Energies announced the termination of funding for the solar energy project in Wadi Ad-Dawasir.
I would also like to touch on the COP28 conference, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a key role, along with the United Arab Emirates, which will chair the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to put forward new ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sectors, given their pioneering role at the global level.
I will also chair, along with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, an economic forum on hydrogen, in which large French and Saudi companies specialized in this field will participate. French and Saudi Arabia in carbon removal projects and developing future energies to protect our planet, “renewable and nuclear energy.”
