Manila: The Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines has announced a new partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) Ministry of Energy aimed at enhancing energy cooperation and exploring potential Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives. This strategic collaboration is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s broader efforts to strengthen energy investments and ensure the country's energy security, following his visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2023. According to Philippines News Agency, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla highlighted the mutual interest in leveraging the Philippines' native hydrogen resources, with Saudi Arabia bringing its extensive expertise in exploration and development of upstream sectors to the table. "Prince Abdulaziz (bin Salman Al Saud) and his team expressed interest in our native or naturally occurring hydrogen resources. Given Saudi Arabia's extensive expertise in the exploration and development of upstream sectors, this cooperation holds promising benefits for b oth countries," Lotilla stated. The partnership, formalized on October 14, encompasses several areas for cooperation, including petroleum derivatives, sustainable aviation fuel, and digital technology for electrical systems management. It also emphasizes energy efficiency initiatives. A significant component of the agreement involves the exploration of AI to enhance energy management practices, particularly in real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and energy forecasting. Lotilla further noted the potential for both nations to jointly explore digital technology applications and AI to improve the management of electrical systems and broader energy infrastructure. This includes the implementation of smarter grids and automated control systems to ensure sustainable and secure energy. To solidify this collaboration, the DOE and KSA's Ministry of Energy are scheduled to conduct bilateral meetings to discuss the specifics of their cooperative efforts.