Riyadh:Saudi Arabia State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit has requested comprehensive cooperation from Saudi Arabia to ensure Bangladesh's energy security. This plea was made during high-level talks on the sidelines of the 17th International Energy Forum (IEF-17).
According to United News of Bangladesh, the state minister engaged in bilateral discussions to attract foreign investment in renewable energy, expand international partnerships, and reinforce national energy security. At the beginning of his meeting with Saudi Assistant Minister of Energy Nasser bin Hadi Al-Qahtani, he expressed sorrow and condemned the terrorist attack at Riyadh International Airport, which resulted in the deaths of two Bangladeshi nationals and injuries to others. He conveyed condolences from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, seeking support for the repatriation of victims' remains and medical treatment for the injured.
The state minister formally requested Saudi cooperation for Bangladesh's long-term energy needs. In response, the Saudi representatives acknowledged the special relationship with Bangladesh and showed optimism about expanding cooperation in development and energy projects.
Aninda Islam Amit also emphasized establishing a regular delegation exchange and consultative framework to achieve Bangladesh's Vision 2030 energy targets. He proposed long-term LNG supply agreements and the development of 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, the discussions addressed Bangladesh's growing natural gas demand and potential new long-term supply agreements. Both parties reviewed LNG supply portfolios and source diversification, stressing the importance of continuous 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 its interest in exploring clean energy investments in the country. Members of the Bangladesh delegation and officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia were present at these meetings.