RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Germany are set for increased cooperation in the fields of electricity, clean energy, and hydrogen after top officials from the two countries met in the European country. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held talks with German Minister of Economy and Climate Action Robert Habeck to discuss potential cooperation in those areas, as well as collaboration on carbon capture, utilization, recycling, and storage projects within the circular carbon economy approach. At the beginning of this visit, the Saudi energy minister organized the “Saudi-German Energy Day,” which saw participation from more than 120 Saudi and German companies. Both sides reviewed the preparations for the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, also referred to as COP28, which is set to be held in the UAE toward the end of the year. On the Saudi side, representatives of the Public Investment Fund, as well as several energy companies, participated in the meeting. Several major German energy firms also took part. In March, the Kingdom and Germany signed seven agreements following a high-level delegation’s three-day visit to Berlin, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The memorandums of understanding dealt with enhancing cooperation in chemicals, waste management, and renewable energy. They also covered engineering, advanced industries, the automotive industry, and technology. In September 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said he wanted to deepen the energy partnership between the two countries. Scholz said that the partnership should go beyond fossil fuels to include hydrogen and renewables. Germany has been seeking to diversify its energy supply since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.