South Korea and Saudi Arabia need oil but eye clean energy

19/1/2022 7:51

        A delegation led by South Korea's president visiting Saudi Arabia inked a preliminary deal Tuesday to explore a project to develop a potentially cleaner form of energy. The development comes even as Saudi Arabia remains South Korea's top supplier of crude oil.
        
        The visit was the second stop on a Mideast tour by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife, who were greeted on the tarmac by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and an honor guard marching band. All were masked and President Moon did not shake hands with the prince, in line with coronavirus social distancing practices.
        
        The preliminary deal centers on developing a project in Saudi Arabia to produce green hydrogen for export, according to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency. Supporters of green hydrogen tout it as a less carbon intensive way to power transportation and curb some of the environmentally destructive impacts of burning gasoline and diesel fuel.