RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, which plans to inject carbon dioxide into the world’s biggest oil field by 2013 to trap climate-warming gas and improve oil production, has discussed plans with Belgium to cooperate in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The plans will help to undertake joint research projects, disseminate and exchange up-to-date information, and evaluate where Riyadh and Brussels stand in terms of CCS research and development.

“Cooperation in the field of CCS was one of the major topics discussed with senior Saudi officials during Sunday’s meetings,” said Bart Ouvry, a spokesman for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, here on Sunday. Ouvry was referring to talks held on Saturday between Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Belgian Foreign Minister Yves Leterme.

The Belgian delegation also visited the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) and the headquarters of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) here on Sunday.

Referring to the talks with Prince Saud, the Belgian spokesman said that “two important subjects — the Middle East peace process and Afghanistan were discussed besides several other issues of common concerns.”

The Belgian side, he said, had pledged to support Saudi initiatives to restore peace in the Middle East region. He said that the issue of energy and oil prices topped the agenda of talks.

The move to boost Saudi-Belgian cooperation in the energy sector is significant keeping in view the fact that the Kingdom was marching ahead in terms of CCS research and development. Saudi Aramco is currently working on a demonstration project for CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

This CO2 EOR demonstration project is planned for implementation by 2013. It is planned to inject 40 million standard cubic feet per day of CO2 in an area already flooded by water in the great reservoir of Ghawar in the Kingdom.