US energy secretary says discussed LNG exports with Saudi Arabia

US energy secretary Rick Perry said that he had held talks with Saudi officials on possible exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to the Kingdom, Reuters reported.

Perry was speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, as part of his official visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The US is also eyeing opportunities to supply LNG to the UAE, Perry said.

“As quick as contracts get signed and ships get filled, we want to be reliable and expeditious [in supplying],” the energy secretary said, cited by The National newspaper.

According to a statement by the UAE energy ministry, the Gulf country has agreed to cooperate with the US in trade and development in conventional and unconventional oil, gas and coal, including LNG; as well as technologies related to carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), civil nuclear energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“Growing US LNG exports could provide an option for an additional source of gas supply to the region,” the statement said.