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Chu heads for Middle East next week
Energy Secretary Steven Chu will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next week in what DoE billed as a trip to continue Obama administration efforts to bolster U.S. ties with the region.
He will meet with government officials, scientists and others to “discuss a range of energy issues, including energy security and the importance of investing in a broad portfolio of energy technologies as part of the global economic recovery,” according to DoE.
Chu’s agenda includes a meeting Monday with Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali al Naimi. Saudi Arabia is OPEC’s dominant oil producer and one of five largest sources of U.S. oil imports (Canada is tops).
Chu is an expert in renewable energy but appeared wobbly on international oil market issues at the beginning of his tenure at DOE. A year ago he drew widespread attention when he expressed uncertainty about the U.S stance on OPEC production.
Chu’s predecessor at DoE, Sam Bodman, frequently commented on OPEC production decisions, albeit using cautious diplomatic phrasing about need to keep markets “well supplied.”
The agenda for next week’s trip also includes a tour of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and a speech at the Masdar Institute for Science and Technology in the UAE, among other events.
