President Obama delivers remarks during Japanese Prime Minister Abe's State Visit in April 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.)

Joint Statement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry on Memorandum of Cooperation and Implementing Arrangement

 
MOC focuses on Collaboration in the Field of Carbon Capture and Storage and the Implementing Arrangement is to facilitate Clean Energy Technology R&D

U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s (METI) Vice Minister for International Affairs Norihiko Ishiguro, on Monday, April 27, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in Washington, D.C. to foster collaboration on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, along with an Implementing Arrangement to further R&D cooperation on clean energy technology.

These partnerships were highlighted in the Fact Sheet released during the White House visit of Prime Minster Shinzo Abe. For the full text of the Fact Sheet click here.

The CCS MOC signed on Monday is to facilitate exchanging information and best practices for the development and deployment of CCS technologies to combat climate change, ensure collective security of energy, and drive low-carbon economies.  

More specifically, the CCS MOC provides a framework for collaboration between DOE and METI on sequestration options for carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-based systems, including capture and storage or utilization; exploration technology and methodology for seismic, logging and reservoir characterization; the development and production of technology for enhanced oil production; and carbon dioxide transportation.

To implement the CCS MOC, DOE and METI are to exchange scientific and technical information, including results of research and development efforts; organize seminars, workshops, and other meetings on specific topics related to CCS; and exchange technical samples, materials, instruments, and components for testing.

Under the U.S.-Japan Agreement for Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology, the Implementing Arrangement is expected to facilitate mutually beneficial joint projects in clean energy technology. Key areas of cooperation include: energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart grid technology, energy storage, clean energy vehicle technologies, CCS, and critical materials.

For more information on the Implementing Arrangement, please click here.

Maisah Khan
Maisah Khan served as a Senior Advisor in the office of the Assistant Secretary in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy where she assisted in daily operations and communications, performed informational research, and engaged senior staff on critical cross-cutting issues. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Ms. Khan worked at a strategic consulting firm as a Research Associate. In 2012, Ms. Khan worked as a Deputy Regional Field Director in President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign in Iowa. Maisah Khan holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecological Sustainability.Maisah Khan served as a Senior Advisor in the office of the Assistant Secretary in the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy where she assisted in daily operations and communications, performed informational research, and engaged senior staff on critical cross-cutting issues. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Energy, Ms. Khan worked at a strategic consulting firm as a Research Associate. In 2012, Ms. Khan worked as a Deputy Regional Field Director in President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign in Iowa. Maisah Khan holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecological Sustainability.
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