Riyadh:Saudi Arabia State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Aninda Islam Amit, has reached out for comprehensive Saudi cooperation to bolster Bangladesh's energy security. This appeal was made during high-level discussions on the sidelines of the 17th International Energy Forum (IEF-17) in Saudi Arabia.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the state minister engaged in bilateral talks focused on attracting foreign investment in renewable energy, expanding international partnerships, and reinforcing national energy security. During his meeting with Saudi Assistant Minister of Energy, Nasser bin Hadi Al-Qahtani, Amit expressed condolences for the recent terrorist attack at Riyadh International Airport, which claimed the lives of two Bangladeshi nationals and injured others. He conveyed an official condolence message from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister and requested assistance in repatriating the victims' remains and ensuring medical care for the injured.
In discussions on bilateral energy cooperation, Bangladesh sought Saudi support to secure its long-term energy needs. The Saudi side acknowledged Bangladesh as a brotherly nation and expressed a willingness to expand cooperation in various development and energy projects.
To meet Vision 2030 energy goals, Amit proposed the establishment of a regular delegation exchange and consultative framework, as well as long-term LNG supply agreements and a dedicated terminal. In a subsequent meeting with Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, both parties discussed Bangladesh's growing natural gas demand, existing LNG import structures, and potential new long-term supply agreements, emphasizing the need for ongoing communication between relevant entities.
During another meeting with ACWA Power CEO Dr. Mohammad Abunayyan, discussions focused on investment opportunities in Bangladesh's renewable energy sector. ACWA Power expressed interest in exploring clean energy investments in Bangladesh. Members of the Bangladeshi delegation and officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia were present at these meetings.