Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud in Antalya on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on cooperation in electricity projects, establishing a framework for renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts. The memorandum was signed on behalf of Türkiye by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Those attending from the Turkish side included Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.
The footage shows Erdoğan receiving the Saudi delegation, followed by the two sides sitting at the negotiating table with Turkish ministers present. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Bayraktar then sign the memorandum in front of Erdoğan, after which the two sides pose for a group photograph in front of the COP31 logo.
From 2,000 to 5,000 megawatts
The memorandum follows an agreement signed by Ministers Abdulaziz bin Salman and Bayraktar last February during Erdoğan’s official visit to the Kingdom to develop solar power plants in Türkiye with a capacity of up to 5,000 megawatts in two phases. According to announcements made at the time, the first phase included two projects in the provinces of Sivas and Karaman with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts and investments of nearly $2 billion. A Turkish state-owned company was to purchase the electricity generated for 30 years.
Bayraktar announced in August that an agreement for an additional 3,000 megawatts would be signed on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, bringing total cooperation between the two countries to 5,000 megawatts.
On the same day, the Saudi Cabinet, in a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, approved a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in railways between the Kingdom’s Transport General Authority and Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Erdoğan congratulates Abiy Ahmed on hosting COP32
As part of his meetings on the sidelines of the conference, Erdoğan received Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, whose country will host COP32 after Türkiye.
According to the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, Erdoğan said Türkiye and Ethiopia would continue taking steps to develop cooperation in several areas, particularly trade and investment, and that Türkiye’s support for peace and stability in Ethiopia would continue. He also congratulated Abiy Ahmed on hosting COP32.
The leaders’ summit within COP31 begins Wednesday in Antalya under Erdoğan’s presidency and will run for two days, with around 102 leaders from 95 countries expected to attend, including leaders from several Arab and African countries.
Photos and video: Anadolu Agency
