From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Energy Minister meets Abu Dhabi official to advance energy deal with UAE, Jordan
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
Energy Minister Israel Katz and ministry Director General Yaakov Blitstein meet with the CEO of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar to advance a trilateral project in which Jordan will supply solar energy to Israel and receive desalinated water from Israel in return.
An Energy Ministry statement says the aim of the meeting was to complete the professional work and prepare contracts for signing at the annual UN climate conference COP28 to be held in Dubai starting the end of November.
Political and commercial agreements will have to be signed after that.
Also at the meeting are representatives of Israel’s water and electricity authorities, the Finance Ministry, and Israel’s point person for the project, retired Brig. Gen. Asher Ben Lulu.
Last month, Katz met with the Jordanian ministers responsible for water, energy and environment and the UAE’s Industry and Innovation minister.
Earlier this month, Masdar representatives visited Israel.
In June, Katz discussed the project with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Affairs John Kerry.
The Times of Israel Community.