Aramco, an integrated energy and chemicals company in Saudi Arabia, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Terra Drone to drive innovation in drone technologies for the oil and gas industry.
The MOU seeks to strengthen the partnership between Terra Drone and Aramco, with a focus on advancing drone, robotics and AI-driven technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency in the energy sector, while supporting localisation efforts.
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It provides a platform for innovation in research and development (R&D), technology piloting, training and localisation.
Drone services provider Terra Drone plans to conduct test runs to inspect Aramco’s facilities in Saudi Arabia, starting later this year and extending into the next, according to a report by Reuters.
The agreement reflects a shared vision to advance solutions and develop local capabilities, aligning with the kingdom’s broader economic goals.
The MOU was signed by Terra Drone founder and CEO Toru Tokushige and Aramco senior vice-president of Engineering Services Khalid Y. Alqahtani, in the presence of guests and industry leaders.
In 2023, Terra Drone received funding from Wa’ed Ventures to localise advanced drone technologies.
Following this, Terra Drone established Terra Drone Arabia with the aim of localising services, establishing R&D and production facilities, and supporting job creation for Saudis.
The MOU enables the deployment of innovative drone solutions and addresses complex challenges in the energy industry.
This partnership aligns with Terra Drone’s long-term commitment to localisation, supporting Aramco’s efforts to create a sustainable and globally competitive ecosystem.
In a separate development, Aramco unveiled plans to expand its presence in South America with the acquisition of fuel distributor Primax, operating in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. The acquisition is valued at approximately $3.5bn (SR13.13bn).
